Warriewood and the broader Northern Beaches region could witness a substantial $79 spike in annual rates for the average household. The new rates will escalate the annual burden to approximately $1,700 in the 2024/25 financial year, to combat the soaring expenses triggered by inflation.
A draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which includes funding for the new Warriewood Valley Community Centre, has proposed a 4.9 per cent increase in Council rates, the maximum permissible under the NSW Government’s “rate peg” system overseen by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
This rate surge aims to generate $197 million in revenue for the Council to counteract the escalating costs of labour, materials, contracts, and construction exacerbated by Sydney’s inflation levels, which have more than doubled the increase in rates income over the past three years.
In addition to the Council rate hike, ratepayers are set to shoulder a $31 increase, bringing the total charge for household garbage, waste, and recycling bin collection to $586 annually.
The Council’s $101 million capital works program, subject to budget ratification later this year, includes substantial investments:
| SUBURB | PROJECT |
|---|---|
| Warriewood Valley, Warringah | $23.2m for new community facilities including Warriewood Valley community centre ($16.7m) and Warringah Recreation Centre ($2.2m) |
| Various locations | $16.4m on improving road assets including $7.1m to resurface 4.8km of roads |
| Various locations | $10.1m towards priority stormwater management works to reduce flooding and pollution |
| Queenscliff | $5.8m on cycleways including the pedestrian and cyclist bridge at Queenscliff ($3m) |
| Various locations | $5.2m for new and improved footpaths and walkways which includes: a section of the Coast Walk, the Queenscliff Headland access ramp, $2.8m to deliver 5km of footpaths across 14 suburbs |
| Various locations | $3.5m improving sports fields and new recreation facilities |
| Various foreshore locations | $3.4m improving foreshores at various locations, including implementation of the Freshwater Beach masterplan ($1.5m) |
| Frenchs Forest, Collaroy-Narrabeen | $3.3m on new and improved reserves and playgrounds including Frenchs Forest precinct park upgrade ($1.5m), $3.3m to continue the Collaroy-Narrabeen coastal protection works |
| Taylors Point, Greater Mackerel Beach, Currawong | $2.2m for work on Taylors Point and design of Greater Mackerel Beach and Currawong wharves |
| Manly Dam, Freshwater Beach, West Esplanade Manly | $2m improving recreational trails, including a new Manly Dam boardwalk ($1.5m) |
| Various locations | $1.8m improving public amenities at Freshwater Beach and West Esplanade, Manly, $1.7m on town centre and village upgrades |
Council staff highlighted the escalating costs, reporting that constructing one kilometre of footpath would cost $1 million. The budget allocates nearly $6 million for cycleway projects, including a cyclist bridge at Queenscliff, and $5.2 million for five kilometres of new and improved footpaths. Coastal protection works at Collaroy and Narrabeen are slated to receive $3.3 million in funding.
In comparison, the council’s draft Asset Management Plan identifies a need for an additional $15.1 million annually to maintain and renew existing assets and $10.4 million to uplift service levels and provide high-priority assets required by the community.
Several councillors expressed concerns over the proposed rate hike and Council expenditure.
The Council has voted to put the draft budget on public exhibition for 28 days before voting on the final version in June 2024.
Published 17-May-2024
