Public consultation is now open on North Sydney Council’s proposal to slug ratepayers with a large increase in rates. Council has applied to the independent regulator IPART for a Special Rate Variation that increases ordinary rates by 53% over three years and increases the minimum rate by 63%. IPART is now assessing whether this proposal should be allowed to proceed.

I strongly encourage residents, families and local businesses to be heard by making a submission to IPART at https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/ IPART is also running a survey on the rate increase.

I will be making a submission on behalf of our community, making clear that a large and permanent increase in rates of this scale has not been justified and cannot be accepted during a cost-of-living crisis. I have also raised these concerns in Parliament which can be viewed at: youtu.be/oLVqCuo4IXw

Last year, North Sydney Council attempted to impose an extraordinary 87% rate increase. IPART rejected that proposal in full and delivered a sharp rebuke of Council’s approach and processes. Council has failed to listen to the community or heed IPART’s advice and has returned with yet another excessive rates grab.

Council’s proposal reflects a lazy and out-of-touch approach from a Council unwilling to do the hard work required to repair its budget and live within its means. Instead, hardworking residents and small businesses are being treated as a cash cow and a quick fix for Council’s financial mismanagement.

I call on IPART to again reject this proposal in full and contain any increase to the rate peg.

IPART assesses a plan against a set of criteria that considers whether councils have:

• demonstrated the need for the additional income
• provided evidence that the community is aware of the need for and extent of the proposed rate rise
• established that the impact on affected ratepayers is reasonable
• exhibited, approved and adopted relevant planning documents
• explained and quantified the council’s productivity improvements and cost containment strategies.

Submissions should attempt to address these criteria.

Submissions and the survey close on Monday 9 March 2026.