Blacktown City Council rate increase, fee hikes revealed

Blacktown ratepayers are set for a rate rise as the council approves its latest budget. Here’s the latest.

Blacktown aerial. Picture: Skyviewaerial.com

Blacktown council has approved its latest budget, including a 7.1 per cent rate rise.

The council recently adopted new planning and reporting documents, including the 2024-25 budget.

The plan stated the rate peg for Blacktown would be 7.1 per cent, as determined by the independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

The interest rate for overdue fees has also increased from nine per cent to 10.5 per cent for the next financial year.

The council has also set a minimum charge rate, which comes into effect if a property’s rates come below the minimum rate.

Blacktown Mayor Brad Bunting. Photo: Blacktown City Council

“Blacktown City Council has set 2024/2025 rates within the limits given by IPART and which reflect ongoing costs including the Emergency Services Levy and superannuation levy,” a council spokesman said.

“Council’s 2024/2025 budget was devised following community consultation and will deliver facilities and services for a growing community while remaining financially sustainable for the future.”

It comes as council adopted a $758m balanced budget for the new financial year, which addresses several resident concerns including $21.8m towards improving roads and footpaths across the city; $10.2m towards drainage and stormwater for Marsden Park, Riverstone and Rouse Hill; $32m to create the 20ha Ken Birdsey Park at Schofields; and $15m towards a Disability Sport Centre of Excellence at Blacktown International Sports Park.

Mayor Brad Bunting said the budget will “improve infrastructure” while creating new facilities to accommodate for Blacktown’s “growing population” in the future.

“I want to assure the community that the budget was carefully prepared with a view to council’s long term financial sustainability,” he said.

Riverstone cemetery.

The council are also working with the state government to create six new projects under the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program, including a new Community Resource Hub in Seven Hills; renovating the Mount Druitt Resource Hub, Blacktown Aquatic Centre and Mount Druitt Swimming Centre; a new PCYC at Shalvey; a First Nations Cultural Hub in Mount Druitt and a new Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

“With a population of 435,000 across 54 suburbs, the future of our city lies in our hands,” Cr Bunting said.

“The council’s budget initiatives are establishing the groundwork for our city’s future.

“This budget underscores the council’s dedication to providing infrastructure and services in a manner that is efficient, effective, and sustainable.”

The council also endorsed increases to regulated development planning fees and animal companion fees, as was recommended by the report, as well as the introduction of a services levy for burials and cremations at Riverstone and St Bartholomew cemeteries.

The Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre. Picture: Sam Crawford Architects

The new development planning fees, which will increase by about four per cent, include development application fees, extra fees for advertising a certain type of development, requesting modification to developments or a complying development certificate, and two issues of development certificates.

The animal companion fees will increase between 3.97 per cent and 6.29 per cent from the proposed fees to an updated cost by the Office of Local Government.

The new levies for the Riverstone and St Bartholomew cemeteries include a $171.60 fee (including GST) per burial and a $69.30 fee (including GST) per ash burial.

Editor’s note

An earlier version of this story said Blacktown City Council’s rate rise was the third highest in the state, which is incorrect.