Environmental Levy

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Consultation has concluded

This consultation was open from 20 November 2018 to 9 January 2019. Randwick Councillors resolved on 12 February 2019 to apply to IPART for approval to continue the levy. IPART announced on 13 May 2019 that they have approved the continuation of the Levy. Read their media release and website for details.

Since 2004, Randwick City Council has been delivering a range of significant environmental programs, community initiatives and new and upgraded infrastructure as part of the Sustaining our City program funded by an Environmental Levy. The five-year levy applies to residential and business ratepayers and is currently due to expire on 30 June 2019.

We want to know what you think about continuing the levy for another five years to 2024.

You can share your thoughts by:

  • Completing an on-line submission through this site
  • Sending your comments headed "Environmental Levy Extension" to the General Manager by email council@randwick.nsw.gov.au
  • Posting your comments headed "Environmental Levy Extension" to the General Manager, Randwick City Council, 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031.

Please refer to the information booklet and technical information sheet before sending your submission.

All ratepayers will receive a letter, information booklet and short survey in the mail.
If you have not received your letter, please contact Council's Communications team on 1300 722 542.

The consultation period has been extended and will close on 9 January 2019. The consultation period also includes the exhibition for 28 days of Council’s updated Integrated Planning & Reporting documents including the Long Term Financial Plan, Randwick City Plan and 2018-19 Operational Plan and Delivery Program.

Want more information?
You are invited to attend one of our information sessions:

  • Wednesday 28 November 2018, 6.30pm.
    Randwick Community Centre, 27 Munda Street, Randwick

  • Thursday 6 December 2018, 6.30pm.
    Lionel Bowen Library and Community Centre, 669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra.

  • Wednesday 12 December 2018, 6.30pm
    Prince Henry Centre, Corner Pine Ave and Coast Hospital Road, Little Bay.



This consultation was open from 20 November 2018 to 9 January 2019. Randwick Councillors resolved on 12 February 2019 to apply to IPART for approval to continue the levy. IPART announced on 13 May 2019 that they have approved the continuation of the Levy. Read their media release and website for details.

Since 2004, Randwick City Council has been delivering a range of significant environmental programs, community initiatives and new and upgraded infrastructure as part of the Sustaining our City program funded by an Environmental Levy. The five-year levy applies to residential and business ratepayers and is currently due to expire on 30 June 2019.

We want to know what you think about continuing the levy for another five years to 2024.

You can share your thoughts by:

  • Completing an on-line submission through this site
  • Sending your comments headed "Environmental Levy Extension" to the General Manager by email council@randwick.nsw.gov.au
  • Posting your comments headed "Environmental Levy Extension" to the General Manager, Randwick City Council, 30 Frances Street, Randwick NSW 2031.

Please refer to the information booklet and technical information sheet before sending your submission.

All ratepayers will receive a letter, information booklet and short survey in the mail.
If you have not received your letter, please contact Council's Communications team on 1300 722 542.

The consultation period has been extended and will close on 9 January 2019. The consultation period also includes the exhibition for 28 days of Council’s updated Integrated Planning & Reporting documents including the Long Term Financial Plan, Randwick City Plan and 2018-19 Operational Plan and Delivery Program.

Want more information?
You are invited to attend one of our information sessions:

  • Wednesday 28 November 2018, 6.30pm.
    Randwick Community Centre, 27 Munda Street, Randwick

  • Thursday 6 December 2018, 6.30pm.
    Lionel Bowen Library and Community Centre, 669-673 Anzac Parade, Maroubra.

  • Wednesday 12 December 2018, 6.30pm
    Prince Henry Centre, Corner Pine Ave and Coast Hospital Road, Little Bay.



Consultation has concluded
  • IPART media release - Special rate variations determined for six Sydney councils

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    This is a media release issued by IPART on 13 May 2019. Read their original media release and visit their website for further details.

    The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved applications from five Sydney councils, and partially approved another, to increase general income above the 2.7% rate peg from 1 July 2019.

    Applications made by Burwood, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Randwick and Sutherland councils have been approved in full.

    North Sydney Council’s application has been partially approved, with rates to increase by 22.5% over three years, instead of the 40.3% increase over five years requested by the Council.

    If adopted in 2019-20, the increases in the average residential rates across these six NSW metropolitan councils would range from $40 in the case of Ku-ring-gai, up to $170 in Hunter’s Hill.

    These increases include the 2.7% rate peg, which can be applied by all councils from 1 July 2019. Minimum rates for those living in Sutherland will increase from $602.30 to $900 from 1 July 2019.

    This represents around 25% of the ratepayers in Sutherland and brings their rates closer to the average residential rate charged across the council area.

    IPART Chair Dr Paul Paterson said special variations give councils flexibility to generate additional income above the rate peg to meet specific needs.

    Council applications are independently assessed by IPART against the NSW Government’s published criteria. Submissions received directly from stakeholders are also considered.

    “In making these assessments, we have considered whether there is a genuine financial need for additional revenue to allow a council to be financially sustainable, and fund infrastructure projects or asset renewal requirements of their regions,” Dr Paterson said.

    “We also look at efforts made by the various councils to reduce their costs and identify other sources of revenue, as well as the capacity and willingness of ratepayers to pay the requested increase. Through the rate peg and special variation process, IPART determines the allowable increases to councils’ general income.

    Councils decide whether to implement the increase and how it is allocated among different ratepayer categories, such as residential or business rates.

    The six Sydney councils are among 13 councils across NSW (of a total of 128) to apply for special rate variations for 2019-20.

    Of the 13 applications, eight have been approved in full, three have been partially approved, and two (Port Stephens and Tamworth) were declined.

    IPART has attached conditions to the approvals, requiring the additional income to be used for the purposes outlined in the application, and that councils report to their communities about how their additional revenue is spent.

    The full reports on all of the councils’ applications are available on IPART’s website.

    Randwick City Council

    IPART has approved Randwick Council’s application to amend its existing special variation by temporarily increasing its general income by an additional 5.90% in 2019-20 for five years.

    The increase must be removed from the rate base on 1 July 2024. The additional revenue will be used to continue funding the environmental services and projects outlined as part of the Council’s Sustaining our City program.

    The approval follows an application made by the Council last year for a 19.85% cumulative increase over three years from 2018-19 to 2020-21 to be retained permanently in the rate base.

    This application was approved by IPART in 2018 and the first year’s increase of 7.64% was applied in 2018-19.

    This year’s decision means that the Council may increase its rates by a combined 11.42% in 2019-20 and 5.52% in 2020-21, and that the temporary 5.9% component will be removed from the rate base on 1 July 2024.

    Twelve submissions were received opposing the application, with concerns expressed about affordability and consultation.

    IPART found that the Council largely demonstrated a financial need for the additional revenue above the rate peg to implement its proposed projects while remaining financially sustainable.

    Despite the concerns raised, IPART determined that although the impact on ratepayers of the proposed rate increase would be considerable, it was largely reasonable when considering the community’s willingness to pay, and that the Council demonstrated that the community was aware of the purpose of, and need for, the proposed special variation.

    Requested special variation: An amendment to an existing special variation to increase general income by an additional 5.9% in 2019-20 and retain this increase in the rate base for five years.

    Outcome: Approved in full

    Estimated increase in the average residential rate (including rate peg): $70 in 2019-20

    Summary of purpose: To continue funding the environmental services and projects outlined as part of the Council’s Sustaining our City program.

  • Council submits request to IPART to continue Environmental Levy

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    Randwick Council will submit a request to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to continue an Environmental Levy until 2024, following a decision by Council at an Extraordinary Meeting on Tuesday 12 February 2019.

    A report to the Council summarised the results of a seven week consultation program run from 20 November to 9 January which found widespread awareness of the levy and the sustainability programs it funds.

    A survey sent to every business and residential ratepayer revealed 54% of the 5,823 respondents supported the continuation of the levy. In addition, a telephone survey of 600 random and representative residents and ratepayers found 72% support for the levy.

    The Environmental Levy has been in place since 2004 and has helped extend the Coastal Walkway through South Coogee, Malabar Headland and Cape Banks as well as irrigating coastal parks with recycled stormwater. It also funds other environmental initiatives such as Gross Pollutant Traps which improve water quality runoff at our beaches and environmental programs, workshops and festivals like Eco-Living Expo.

    IPART will publicly exhibit Council’s request, which will be open to further comments from the community, throughout February and March 2019 and will announce its decision in May 2019.

    Should IPART approve the application to continue the levy, it will represent an average of 25 cents per day, or $91.49 per year, for the average residential ratepayer.

    Links


  • Council to consider community consultation outcomes

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    Randwick City Councillors will meet at an Extra Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 12 February 2019 to consider the results of the community consultation on the continuation of the Environmental Levy.

    Community consultation results

    Council report

    Attending a Council meeting
    Council meetings are open to members of the public to attend. You can also register to speak at the meeting if you'd like to address the Councillors.

  • Residents asked for feedback on continuing Environmental Levy

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    Randwick City residents and ratepayers can have their say on whether an Environmental Levy in place for the past 15 years should continue for another five years as part of a four-week community consultation period commencing today, 20 November 2018.

    The levy – which has helped extend the Coastal Walkway through South Coogee, Malabar Headland and Cape Banks as well as irrigating coastal parks with recycled stormwater – is due to expire on 30 June 2019.

    The levy also funds other environmental initiatives such as Gross Pollutant Traps which improve water quality runoff at our beaches and environmental programs, workshops and festivals like Eco-Living Expo.

    Council must make an application for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) by 11 February 2019 should it wish to continue the levy.

    “As a long-time local resident, a Councillor and now as Mayor, I’ve seen the progress we’ve been able to make because of the funding from the levy,” Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson said.

    “At an average of 25 cents per day or $91.49 per year for the average residential ratepayer, it’s a small amount that makes a big difference.

    “We’re asking residents and ratepayers whether they want to continue a levy already included in the rates to deliver some great environmental programs.

    “Discontinuing the levy means we’ll have to reprioritise our works programs – this means some of the environmental programs we’ve been delivering won’t continue while others will take longer or result in other works programs not happening,” Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson said.

    In May 2018, Randwick Council received approval from IPART for a 19.85% cumulative SRV to fund the Our Community Our Future program over three years which commenced July 2018.

    Should the Environmental Levy continue, the overall cumulative increase for ratepayers over the next five years (from July 2019) will be 19.91% including the already approved Our Community Our Future SRV. Should the Environmental Levy not continue, the cumulative increase will be 12.44%.

    Impact of continuing Environmental Levy


    How to have your say

    • Ratepayer survey. Every ratepayer will receive a letter, information booklet and survey in the mail. Complete the survey using the reply paid envelope or online using the link provided.
    • Online. Visit www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au to lodge a submission.
    • Information sessions. Attend an information session on 28 Nov, 6 Dec or 12 Dec.
    • Email. Submissions can be emailed to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au or mailed to Council.
    • In person. Documents can be viewed at Council’s Administration Centre and Libraries.

    All submissions must be received by Council by 5pm 18 December 2018.

    Media enquiries:

    Chelsea Hunter – 0419 694 983 or chelsea.hunter@randwick.nsw.gov.au
    Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au