Tweed Shire Council votes to lift rates by 6.35 per cent for 2023-24 financial year

Tweed residents will fork out more money in a national cost of living crisis after a vote to hike rates – which the mayor says is unavoidable. Here’s the details.

Tweed council sought an additional $1.6 million through a special rate variation to cover the costs of additional cyber security, an IT upgrade, additional planning staff, insurance and to cover the cost of the removal of the Environmental Enforcement Levy.

Tweed Shire Council will lift general rates by 6.35 per cent from July 1 after council approved a Special Rate Variation (SRV) for the coming financial year.

At a meeting in Tweed Heads on Thursday, councillors voted five-to-two to pass on the SRV Councillors Warren Polglase and Reece Byrnes voting against.

The rise is comprised of the statewide four per cent pegged rate figure – plus the 2.35 per cent SRV sought by Tweed.

The decision will see ordinary minimum residential and farmland rates rise by $22.85 to $1166.65 for the 2023/24 financial year.

Ordinary minimum business rates will rise by $22.15 to $1282.45.

Tweed mayor Chris Cherry: “When we talked through the various options with residents and explained in detail why we had to do this, there was far greater acceptance.” Picture: Nigel Hallett

Additional typical charges for water, sewerage and waste will rise by $104.25 for the year.

This will take the total minimum residential bill to $2844.55 for the 2023/24 financial year – representing a 3.81 per cent increase.

“Nobody wants to see a rate rise but ultimately council services are all very important to our community, so I am supportive of this 6.35 per cent rise,” Mayor Chris Cherry said.

The council sought an additional $1.6m through an SRV to cover the costs of additional cyber security, an IT upgrade, additional planning staff, insurance and to cover the cost of the removal of the Environmental Enforcement Levy.

Money for the wall raising of Clarrie Hall Dam has been included in the budget.

“It was clear through our engagement process how valued council services are,” Ms Cherry said.

“When we talked through the various options with residents and explained in detail why we had to do this, there was far greater acceptance of a rate rise.”

Meanwhile, councillors have also approved a $287 million budget for 2023/24.

This includes capital expenditure of $86 million.

Tweed Shire councillor Warren Polglase voted against passing on the SRV.

Key projects include:

* $22 million for sewer infrastructure

* $15.2 million for various capital roadworks, not including flood recovery works

* $8 million for the Murwillumbah Depot relocation

* $5.8 million for Waste Transfer Station infrastructure

* $5.2 million for the Animal Rehoming Centre relocation; and

* $5.2 million for the Clarrie Hall Dam wall raising.

Find out how the changes affect you by using the General Rate calculator on council’s website.

Tweed was one of 17 councils across NSW to apply for an SRV ahead of the next financial year, with its requested rate rise significantly lower than the rest.

Ratepayers are encouraged to assess the impact of the SRV on their respective properties by using the General Rate calculator available on council’s website at tweed.nsw.gov.au/general-rate-calculator.

Anyone significantly affected by the rate increase is urged to contact council at their earliest opportunity to discuss possible hardship assistance.