Hawkesbury City Council has voted to apply to the pricing regulator for a rates rise as the mayor moved to clear up some “misrepresentations” surrounding the issue.
Councillors voted to submit the Special Rates Variation (SRV) application for 2018/19 to the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal (IPART) at the January 30 meeting. However, Mayor Mary Lyons-Buckett was concerned over two documents drafted by the Oakville Progress Association Inc and Hawkesbury MP Dominic Perrottet respectively against the move.
“I am particularly concerned that the Member for Hawkesbury is urging residents to oppose the rate increase before council has even lodged its submission to IPART...,” she stated. “Mr Perrottet’s letter omits the fact that the recent rating increases in Oakville and other areas adjoining the North West Growth Sector were the direct result of substantial increases in land valuations undertaken by the NSW Valuer General in 2016.
“The letter from the Oakville Progress Association appears to contain some significant omissions and misrepresentations. While I respect the right of residents to express their views about council decisions, I would hope that any information provided to residents was balanced and fairly represented council’s position.
“What [Oakville residents] and Mr Perrottet are asking for is for the rates of the majority of ratepayers in the Hawkesbury to be increased to offset the impact of the substantial increase in the value of land in those areas adjoining the North West Growth Sector, land values which were determined by the NSW Valuer general at the behest of the NSW Government.”
She moved a table titled, “It’s been said vs The Real Facts” be posted on social media.
Cr Peter Reynolds moved that wording be included on rates notices “reflecting how council has been financially affected by the NSW Government’s practice of ‘cost-shifting’ onto council expenses that must be paid by ratepayers”, in a move similar to information sent out about the carbon tax.
“Cost shifting is a practice ratepayers are largely unaware of, yet it is the ratepayers who have to pay for it,” he stated. “The average cost to council was $4.5 million for the years 2012 to 2019. However, the cost to council for the financial year 2015/16 was $6.9 million.”
Have your say on the proposed rate rise: https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Local-Government/Council-Portal/Submission-Form
