Hornsby council pay $9 million in ongoing rate fight with Parramatta
Hornsby council has conceded $9 million in rates owed to Parramatta council, but the councillors are warning residents not to be deceived as the bill continues to climb.
Parramatta
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Hornsby Council has promised Parramatta Council $9 million but Epping councillors are telling residents not to be deceived, describing the money as “a weapon of war”.
Parramatta independent councillor Lorraine Wearne said the decision by Hornsby Council to continue to withhold Epping ward rate data was part of Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock’s political game.
“It’s information hostage taking,” Cr Wearne said.
“They play political games to make people believe that Hornsby are the good guys and Parramatta are the bad guys but they are, and have been, the bad guys since day one ... They are going against a state directive that they must hand over the data of the ward.”
Parramatta Council has been in negotiations with Hornsby since May 2016. It culminated in August with a court case and a note sent by Parramatta Council demanding payment of $22 million within seven days.
A Parramatta Council spokesman said the action taken was forced after repeated refusals by Hornsby.
“Council will continue to pursue the remaining monies owed in rates and levies collected … by Hornsby,” the spokesman said.
Cr Wearne said the amount owed could now exceed $30 million.
“From my understanding and what I am being told by my staff it should be more than $30 million owed. That’s for ongoing rates and developer fees,” she said.
“We are sweeping the streets of Epping, we are building the playgrounds and listening to the residents. Whenever you ask an Epping resident they say they much prefer Parramatta to Hornsby, they don’t want to go back.”
Liberal Epping ward councillor Bill Tyrrell said the decision to provide payment may lead to an “amicable” resultion to the saga.
“I think it’s good that they are showing they are willing to resolve this issue in an amicable way,” he said.
“At the end of the day the proclamation was quite clear and we have commenced our duties in the Epping ward irrespective of what they are supposed to be doing.”
Cr Ruddock’s letter to the council outlined the payment as an “act of good faith”. “We make this voluntary payment in good faith, as we have always had a strong relationship with Parramatta and wish that to continue,” he said.
“This is an issue that should be decided by the representatives of our two communities, instead of wasting ratepayers’ money on lawyers.”
The court case is on hold until February and Cr Wearne said she would be supporting continued legal action.