Latest news with #ZoëBaker
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Ratepayers have been whacked with costly bill jumps in Sydney's Northern Beaches
Some Sydney ratepayers have been slugged with a 25 per cent increase in bills, while another council has slammed the system after its application for an almost 90 per cent hike was rejected. Northern Beaches ratepayers will face a 25 per cent hike in their bill after a decision from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) — the state's independent price regulator — on Thursday. The Northern Beaches and three regional councils were given special rate variations. However, North Sydney ratepayers have escaped an exorbitant bump after the council's request for an 87 per cent increase in rates was rejected. North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said 'the system is clearly flawed'. 'It is incredibly disappointing that IPART refused both applications without considering even a partial approval of either, particularly the minimum rate application,' she said in a statement. 'Without responsible financial management and provision of adequate funding, the burden shifts to the next generation or the one after that. 'North Sydney Council's financial position is very well known and has been widely reported in the media over many years. If a council like North Sydney, subject to significant public scrutiny in media across the state, is unable to effect financial repair through applications to IPART, the system is clearly flawed.' The mayor also said 'tough choices and decisions' will be made by the council moving forward, including service cuts, asset sales and other measures. Additionally, North Sydney Council's special variation application to increase minimum rates for residents was also rejected. The request for rate hikes sparked scrutiny from hundreds of locals who protested against the North Sydney Council in February this year. Resident Jocelyn Guy, who took part in the protests, told the Daily Telegraph the council 'wasted so much money'. 'Why aren't they looking at (ways to raise money) instead of just trying to shove money in their coffers so they can spend it in more incompetent ways,' she said. Holding placards in defiance, with some in the public gallery yelled 'vote them out' while others cries of 'liar', 'shame' and 'sack them all' rang from the hundreds standing outside the council chambers. The decision has been a partial win for Northern Beaches Council, as their request for a 39.6 per cent increase in rates over a period of three years was approved to only 25 per cent over two years. Council Mayor Heins said the decision recognised the 'considerable pressures on Council's budget' 'The approval gives us the opportunity to achieve what we set out to do – maintain core infrastructure and secure financial stability,' she said. 'This has been a tough conversation to have with our community in this economic climate and we appreciate the feedback and input from our ratepayers.' The mayor said the rate hikes will 'better meet the real cost of maintaining (the) community assets' which has 'increased significantly over many years alongside the financial impacts of multiple natural emergencies, cost shifting and other budget pressures'.
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.
