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Just prior to Christmas 2024, the Northern Beaches Council sent a letter to ratepayers asking for community feedback on an increase in rates. They presented 4 options (reduce services by increasing rates only by the rate peg, maintain services by increasing rates by a cumulative 3 year increase of 31.1%, improve services by increasing rates by a cumulative 3 year increase of 39.6% and increase services by increasing rates by a cumulative 3 year increase of 46.0%). This letter included a barcode to 'learn more'.
Read the letter here.
Close to 6,000 residents submitted feedback, with the majority (more than 50%) of respondents selecting option 1.
Council then held a meeting where a number of people attended and voiced their concerns.
Despite the ratepayers attempts to reason with council during this cost of living crisis and to ask questions about their expenditure, Council voted to submit a Special Rate Variation to IPART (the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) for option 3 - a cumulative increase over 3 years of 39.6%. This is despite only 11% supporting this option. This was voted on by Council members (8 voted for the increase and 7 voted against it).
Many residents were outraged that, despite the survey results, Council did not listen to their constituents, or those Council members who were offering an alternative way forward.
This website was established to better inform our community. Your our voice matters, your concerns matter, the survey results matter and Council should listen... after all you are paying their wages.
We have the power to stop this outrageous additional financial burden on families, businesses, young people and pensioners if we all come together.
What can you do? Read on.....
Step 1
Sign the petition
If we can get to 20,000 signatures, this will be tabled in Parliament. Please sign it here.
Encourage your friends and family to sign it.
Step 2
Write or email
Write letters or emails to various people expressing your thoughts on the issue.
We have provided a list of contacts here.
Step 3
Engage with the IPART
IPART have opened their submissions so engage with them. More information can be found here.
Issues with the Council Reports and Submissions
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Inaccuracy of figures in consultation process and report;
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Failure to accurately represent community submissions and results of the Poll. which was written by professional consultant to seek a pre-determined outcome;
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Council staff in the report seeking a self-interested outcome to protect their employment /financial interests;
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No re-structure/job cuts explored before survey;
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The report lacks dispassionate neutrality;
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Ignored the Resolution by Council in December to explore and make recommendations as to an alternative to an SRV.
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The inclusion of the Morrison Low's capacity to pay report is an irrelevant consideration - in terms of an IPLAN SRV exercise;
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The claim that past natural disasters funding is required is irrelevant as Council is insured with Statewide Mutual;
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Council does not meet the criteria of an IPLAN SRV; and
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Asset maintenance ratio averages well over 100% and the average renewal ratio (Council is spending more on assets than Council is depreciating them).
