North Sydney residents push for inquiry over rates

Furious North Sydney residents staring down the barrel of a massive 87 per cent rate rise have called on the Minns government to commence a public inquiry into the council after councillors voted in favour of the increase on Monday evening.

Furious North Sydney residents staring down the barrel of a massive 87 per cent rate rise have called on the Minns government to commence a public inquiry into the council after councillors voted in favour of the increase on Monday evening.

In response North Sydney MP Felicity Wilson moved a motion on Tuesday calling on the Minns government to conduct an immediate public inquiry into the council’s operations due to its “egregious financial mismanagement” resulting in the “obscene” rate hikes.

Incensed residents heckled councillors who voted to apply to the independent regulator to approve the massive rate hike, at the fiery council meeting on Monday.

Calls of “liar”, “shame” and “sack them all” rang out from the packed public gallery on Monday night as multiple councillors spoke of their 10-year vision for the area, which included a suite of new projects worth $150 million.

Resident of 24 years, Jenniefer Russell, outside the North Sydney Council meeting on Monday night to protest the proposed rate rise. Picture: Jonathan Ng

At one point, the heckling got so bad Mayor Zoe Baker, who supported the rate rise said there had been “astonishing” disrespect shown and threatened to have members of the public ejected from the chambers.

“You’re happy to listen to the Liberal Party councillors but aren’t happy to listen to those who aren’t,” she said.

“Well, start listening to us,” a member of the crowd yelled back.

Ms Baker, speaking in support of the rate rise, accused two Liberal councillors who voted against the motion for playing politics to increase conservative support for the upcoming federal election.

Only three of the ten North Sydney councillors voted against the rate hike, including two Liberal councillors Jessica Keen and Efi Car.

Residents turned up in numbers to protest the proposed rate rise. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ms Keen, speaking against the rate rise, said she believed the 87 per cent hike would provide $558 million in incremental revenue for the council.

North Sydney local Jenniefer Russell said no warning had been given to residents about the dire financial situation the council was in. She said the massive rate hike would hurt her family budgets.

“We don’t mind the rates going up if they go up to a reasonable level, but 87 per cent is too much over a short time,” she said.

Originally published as North Sydney residents push for inquiry over rates