‘Sack Them All!’ Northern Beaches Council Endorses Rate Hike

‘Sack Them All!’ Northern Beaches Council Endorses Rate Hike
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council narrowly endorsed slugging ratepayers with a 40 percent rate increase on Tuesday night in an eight to seven vote, as hundreds of residents targeted their wrath at councillors and staff, forcing the meeting to be paused twice.

The rate increase is forecast to replenish council coffers with an additional $57 million per year, but 200 disenchanted residents who rallied outside the chambers – and interjectors within the public gallery – were not having it.

One disgruntled resident told the Manly Daily local newspaper that the council “are treating us like idiots.”

“The mayor sounded like a school teacher chastising us,” she added.

With the 39.6 per cent rate rise slated to set the average resident back $673 per year, it was inevitable that it would be contentious.

Before the rate rise can take effect, however, it must be approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal during its Special Variations & Minimum Rates review process for 2025-26, due to end in May.

Contention on council

Councillors from the Northern Beaches Independent Team, which holds seven seats on the 15-seat council, argued the hike was necessary to continue to provide services. 

“If we reject the rise, we are facing serious consequences [including] closing the Warringah Aquatic Centre,” said councillor Sarah Grattan.

Independent councillor Vincent De Luca suggested selling or redeveloping two car parks to raise funds, rather than hiking rates, arguing that despite most of the area’s residents being well-off there were nonetheless “significant issues with poverty”.

“We shouldn’t be putting our hands in ratepayers’ pockets,” the councillor said.

Councillors level political insults

Residents expressed their frustration on Facebook, lamenting both the rate increase and the behaviour of councillors.

“One councillor tried to delegitimize a member of the public making an address because he is affiliated with the Liberal Party,” one resident said, saying a councillor used the terms “Trumpian” and “neo-liberal” to smear opponents of the rate hike.

“I am appalled at the events of last night! The lack of professionalism shown by the mayor and some of the councillors was eye opening,” remarked another.

“The tone and off-handed manner shown by Mayor Sue Heins to the general public and other councillors was appalling. To the councillors who referred to members of the public as Liberals and ‘Trumpism’ [sic] as well as other derogatory terms you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

During the meeting, Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy said calls for “cuts and efficiencies” reflected “the neoliberal drumbeat we are hearing in the community”.

Councillor De Luca expressed his dismay at Councillor Korzy after the two got into a spat.

“If a Liberal Party member, a Libertarian, a Green wants to get up, who bloody cares? Are you saying you won’t listen to them because they’re a Liberal?”

State, national politicians step in

On Friday 24 January, immediately prior to the Australia Day long weekend, state member for Davidson Matt Cross forwarded to the Northern Beaches mayor a petition he started on the matter, which received 911 signatures from Northern Beaches residents.

“We, the undersigned, call on Northern Beaches Council to budget within their means, finding savings, and not raise rates that will negatively impact residents and businesses as we face higher cost of living pressures,” the petition reads.

The petition will be presented to the New South Wales Parliament in February.

Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Mackellar, James Brown, also expressed his disapproval.

“We know that small business is a major employer in the northern beaches, and is critical to our economy,” Brown said, saying that the council had ignored the dire situation faced by struggling local businesses.

State teal MP for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby has also stepped in with a petition to reduce rate rises, to be presented to the local government minister.

“These rate rises will negatively impact residents and businesses, who are already suffering in a cost-of-living crisis,” it reads.

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