Latest news with #OlympicPool
ABC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
North Sydney Council's steep rates increase plan ruled out by IPART
North Sydney Council has lost a bid to hike rates by almost 90 per cent, with the regulator ruling it failed to make a compelling case for the massive rise. The council applied to increase rates by 87 per cent over two years, pushing minimum residential rates from $715 to $1,548. Under the plan submitted to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) rates for businesses would have gone up by even more. The council claimed it needed the extra revenue to immediately start repairing its financial position, build up unrestricted reserves to guarantee financial strength and fund new infrastructure. The issue has caused an uproar in the community since it was announced, with a council meeting in February descending into chaos when councillors voted to approve the plan. During that meeting North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker shouted "this is an outrage" as locals heckled and called for the resignations of councillors supporting the proposal. In knocking back the council's plan, IPART said the council failed to clearly identify the need for the dramatic increase in rates, and also that it was not clear about how it would spend the money It noted criticisms from locals that the rates increase would be used to pay for a massive blowout in the cost of redeveloping the North Sydney Olympic Pool. That project has seen the iconic swimming spot remain a construction zone since 2021. IPART has ruled instead of the 87 per cent requested, the council can only increase rates by 4 per cent next financial year, but it can lodge a new application in future years. Cr Baker told 702 Radio Sydney Breakfast in the wake of the ruling that the council will have to cut $25 million from its budget for the coming financial year to avoid a "real cash liquidity crisis". "If that's the case, the IPART process is just not fit for doing really long-term structural repair." Cr Baker said the council did not want to to sell assets to meet its financial obligations, so cutting the budget is the only short-term solution. The Northern Beaches Council, which sought to increase rates by 40 per cent over three years, has had only the first two years of its plan approved, meaning rates will rise by 25 per cent by 2027. Mayor Sue Hines said IPART's review of the council's cost savings and budgets was positive. "I don't think people realise that councils these days provide so much more than roads, rates and rubbish … everything you virtually look at or touch is normally an asset of councils," Cr Hines said.
Jordan News
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Jordan News
Hassan Directs the Development of a Detailed Maintenance Plan for the Sports Facilities in King Hussein Youth City
The Prime Minister is briefed on the status of the sports facilities in King Hussein Youth City and directs the development of a detailed maintenance and development plan اضافة اعلان On Sunday, Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan was briefed on the status of the sports facilities and amenities in King Hussein Youth City, as part of preparations for their development in implementation of His Majesty the King's directives. The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Youth to prepare a detailed plan, in coordination with the relevant ministries and authorities, which includes the necessary priorities for the maintenance of the facilities in King Hussein Youth City, within the available resources. The maintenance work should be completed as soon as possible and should include the Cultural Palace, Amman International Stadium, Prince Rashid Hall, Prince Hamza Hall, and the Olympic Pool, with the goal of completing these tasks during the current year and 2026. The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to maintain the essential and regular maintenance for all facilities, including sports fields, halls, swimming pools, and recreational areas, ensuring the sustainability of their services to various groups and enabling them to host local and international sports and youth events in the best possible way. The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Youth, toured the different facilities of King Hussein Youth City. They also listened to a briefing presented by the Director of King Hussein Youth City Administration, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Jordanian Football Association, the Secretary General of the Olympic Committee, and the Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth, regarding the key needs and requirements for developing the city's sports facilities. His Majesty King Abdullah II had directed the government at the end of January to establish a new international football stadium to serve the sports and youth sectors in the Kingdom, in addition to developing the sports facilities in King Hussein Youth City, one of the first sports cities in Jordan, and continuing to develop sports facilities in the capital and other governorates.
