Environmental Levy 2023
Consultation has concluded
PROJECT UPDATE 15 May 2024: The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Randwick Council's Special Rate Variation application to make the Environmental Levy part of the Council’s permanent rate base from 1 July 2024.
IPART approved Council’s application for an 11.67% rate increase - made up of 6.77% to continue the environmental levy and a 4.9% rate peg. The actual increase in real terms for ratepayers is only the rate peg of 4.9%, as the Environmental Levy is already in place.
Continuing the Environmental Levy will enable Council to continue delivering rebates that are currently saving households $1M annually on energy bills, build new sections of Coastal Walkway and take meaningful action to address climate change by switching to renewables, conserving water and increasing our urban tree canopy coverage.
Click here for more information or visit IPART's website here.
Since 2004, Randwick Council's sustainability initiatives and environmental improvements have been funded by an Environmental Levy called Sustaining our City.
The levy has cost the average ratepayer around 28c a day or $1.95 a week and has been used to deliver sustainability initiatives across our City including 12km of Coastal Walkway upgrades, installation of gross pollutant traps to reduce pollution at our beaches, and 100% solar power for all Council buildings and streetlights.
With the current levy due to expire on 30 June 2024, we are seeking your feedback on continuing the Environmental Levy and making it permanent.
Continuing the levy will mean Council can continue to fund important projects such as increasing urban our tree canopy, water conservation, reducing emissions, completing the Coastal Walkway, and education workshops and events.
Each five-year period (2009, 2014 and 2019) we have gone to our community seeking your feedback on continuing the levy, and each time a majority of our community has supported the levy.
WHAT CONTINUING OR STOPPING THE LEVY WOULD MEAN FOR YOU:
Option 1 - Continuing the levy
Under this option, ratepayers continue paying an Environmental Levy of approximately $101p.a. for the average ratepayer and it is made permanent. The levy will fund important sustainability improvements and projects.
Option 2: Discontinue Levy
Under this option the Environmental Levy would be discontinued and the average residential ratepayer would receive a reduction on their rates of approximately $101p.a. Without the levy, Council will have to cancel, reduce or delay many sustainability projects.
Click here for more information on how the levy will impact your rates.
Want more information?
WATCH our 2-minute explainer video here.
READ our Information Booklet:
Browse our one-page fact sheets for projects that would be funded by the Environmental Levy:
CHAT to us at a pop-up session:
- 14-16 Nov, 12-2pm daily at the Margaret Martin Library, Royal Randwick Shopping Centre
- 21-22 Nov, 12-2pm daily at Pacific Square, Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction
- 23 Nov, 5-8pm at Pacific Square, Anzac Parade, Maroubra Junction
- 2 Dec, 9-11am at Kensington Community Centre
- 3 December, 10am - 2pm, Best Gift Market, Coogee Beach
Have your Say:
Survey:
Every Randwick City ratepayer will receive a letter and survey in the mail. This is expected to arrive in mid November 2023. Follow the instructions to complete the survey online using the supplied unique URL and QR code or complete the paper survey and mail it back to Council. Note you only need to complete one survey option.
Telephone survey:
We’ll be phoning 750 randomly selected Randwick City residents in November 2023 to seek your views. If we phone you, please consider taking part.
Submissions:
If you're not a ratepayer, but would still like to give us your feedback, please consider making a submission using the following options. Ratepayers are also welcome to use this option in addition to the survey.
- Make a submission online
- Email council@randwick.nsw.gov.au marked “Submission: Environmental Levy”
- In writing to Randwick City Council, “Submission: Environmental Levy”, 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031.
Consultation period: 7 November to 19 December 2023.
Engagement outcomes
