Former Narrandera Shire councillor and mayor Wesley Hall, who led a community revolt against Narrandera council’s proposal, said IPART’s decision to allow the Narrandera Shire Council’s substantial special rate variation to proceed showed that community views don’t matter.
He said the group had put a lot of work into the submissions only to see the community views ignored which was very disappointing.
Council charges are regulated by IPART, which sets the maximum annual increase councils can apply to lift rates – generally around three to five per cent a year.
Narrandera Concerned Ratepayers opposed the rate hikes. Together with Mr Hall the group included David Farley, Kae Smith, Anthony Marsh, Debra Metcalf, Wesley Hall, Ben Mahy, Steve Rolfe, Shane Clancy, Craig Broad, Warwick Heckendorf, Anita Houldsworth and Michael Gray.
The average resident in both areas is likely to see their annual rates rise by around $250 by July 2026. Businesses and farmers face even higher cost increases.
Residents from both towns presented IPART with petitions and written submissions opposing the rate hikes.
Griffith Council made a special application to IPART to raise its rates by 35 per cent over the next three years, while Narrandera applied for a 48 per cent rise over two years.
IPART approved the Narrandera application in full and partially approved Griffith’s submission, allowing for a 10.5 per cent increase over each of the next two years only.
The regulator rejected an application by Snowy Valleys Council – which includes Tumut and Tumbarumba – to increase rates by 42 per cent over the next three years.
IPART said this council did not demonstrate financial need or seek appropriate community consultation.
Griffith and Narrandera councils argued rising costs and reduced financial assistance by the NSW Government put them in a weak financial position and rate hikes were necessary to avoid cuts in services.
“We found that, on balance, the [Griffith] council did not meet the criterion of demonstrating financial need. It articulated a financial need for the [rate increase] over two years but did not clearly articulate the need for additional revenue beyond this,” IPART stated in its decision.
IPART noted that Griffith Council’s financial projections included the building of a new art gallery in 2026/27, but that new gallery plans had now been shelved.
Both councils can increase rates from as early as July but have the discretion to decide by how much and when they will be implemented.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 23 May 2024.
