Six NSW councils apply for rate increases.
IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly said the Tribunal is now seeking community feedback on applications from Federation, Gunnedah Shire, Northern Beaches, North Sydney, Shoalhaven City and Upper Hunter Shire councils. Gunnedah Shire and North Sydney councils had also applied for minimum rate increases.
“Community feedback is an important part of the Tribunal’s assessment of special variation applications,” Ms Donnelly said.
"We encourage affected ratepayers and community members to fill out the survey on the IPART website or lodge a submission in relation to any of the applications we’ve received.”
IPART sets a rate peg annually for each of the 128 councils in NSW which caps each council’s increase in the income they collect from ordinary rates. For 2025-26, the core rate pegs range from 3.6% to 5.1% across NSW. 72 of the 128 councils also received an additional allowance to reflect an adjusted population factor of up to 3.8%.
In general, the councils that have applied this year have indicated they are applying for a special variation to improve financial sustainability and to maintain their current service levels.
Ms Donnelly said “IPART must assess Special Variation applications against criteria set by the Office of Local Government (OLG). Councils can only apply to IPART for a Special Variation if the elected councillors pass a resolution to go ahead with the application.”
As set out in the OLG assessment criteria, IPART will consider 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.
IPART may also consider other relevant matters.
All Special Variation applications for 2025-26 are available for review on the IPART website, along with a short survey and information about how to lodge a submission. IPART will accept feedback on Special Variation applications until 11:59pm on Monday 17 March 2025.
IPART will release the final decisions on Special Variation and Minimum Rate increase applications by May/June 2025.
Attachment 1 - List of Special Variation (Table 1) and Minimum Rate (Table 2) Applications can be viewed on pages 3 and 4 of our media release.
Media Contact: Mark O’Brien, 0427 105 865, media@ipart.nsw.gov.au.