Council rates: How a fence line will cost you $539 more in rates
Homeowners have to pay council rates but why are some areas more expensive than others? We take a look at the state’s most expensive and cheapest council rates. SEE HOW YOUR COUNCIL STACKS UP
NSW
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It’s a fine line — actually a fence line — between living in Greater Sydney’s most rate-hungry council and one with “value for money”.
And mayors and Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock have called on the state’s councils to deliver the lowest possible rates.
Wollondilly is Greater Sydney’s most rate-hungry council, slugging ratepayers an average of $1810 a year.
Camden ratepayer Charles Ganer lives on the dividing line between Wollondilly and Camden council areas.
The Camden South resident pays Camden Council $539 less in rates than the average Camden Park resident who lives over the back fence in Wollondilly Council.
His rates have gone up 1.2 per cent between 2017 and 2019, compared to the 9 per cent increase his Wollondilly neighbours have copped.
“The council does a good job and I know people over the border in Wollondilly pay a lot more and consequently I think we get good value in comparison,” Mr Ganer, a father of three, said.
“I am happy to pay rates if I feel the council is providing me with services. They certainly keep the area clean.”
One road away, Wollondilly ratepayer Tracey Rixon forks out $2540 per year.
“I don’t feel I get anything from my rates other than rubbish collection,” she said.
“It would be good to see money invested in libraries, fitness facilities and pools.”
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Former Wollondilly mayor and current councillor Matthew Deeth said it was forced to increase rates to pay for a colossal infrastructure backlog. He said Camden has many more ratepayers to help fund services than sparsely populated Wollondilly.
“If we didn’t raise rates like we did we would’ve become a financial basket case,” he said.
“Our infrastructure backlog has been steadily reducing over the past few years.”
When it comes to the biggest council rate increases between 2017 and 2019, Dubbo Regional, Singleton, Balranald, Lachlan and Hawkesbury councils all hit ratepayers with double-digit increases in costs.
Fairfield Council remains the fourth-cheapest area for rates in Sydney, charging an average annual residential rate of $788.
Mayor Frank Carbone said his council ensures every dollar spent is for the community and “that there is no fat”.
Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said because of drought, COVID-19 and bushfires, the government has restricted councils’ ability to charge exorbitant interest on unpaid rates as well as taking legal action to recover outstanding rates for 12 months.
“Councils must justify the rates they charge their local communities and explain where their hard-earned dollars go,” she said.
“Anyone who feels they pay too much in rates, especially those paying higher rates than their neighbouring area, should ask their councillors why they are paying more and what extra services they are getting.”