Making rates fairer across the Inner West

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Why are we doing this?

Inner West Council is operating under three old rating systems - Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville. By law, all amalgamated councils must harmonise rates from July 2021. Harmonising rates will mean one rating system across the Inner West. While Council is not increasing its overall income from rates, harmonisation means your rates may change. The change to rates will not increase the total rate revenue received by Inner West Council. Harmonising rates means rates will be paid equitably in proportion to the land value by all ratepayers in the Inner West.


Find out more


Why are we doing this?

Inner West Council is operating under three old rating systems - Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville. By law, all amalgamated councils must harmonise rates from July 2021. Harmonising rates will mean one rating system across the Inner West. While Council is not increasing its overall income from rates, harmonisation means your rates may change. The change to rates will not increase the total rate revenue received by Inner West Council. Harmonising rates means rates will be paid equitably in proportion to the land value by all ratepayers in the Inner West.


Find out more


Will I be affected?

To find out if you’re affected, use the rates calculator to show you how your General Rates may change per annum. The amounts do not include Waste and Stormwater charges or Pensioner Rebates/Discounts.


Have your say

Provide your comments on the proposed new rating structure by completing the feedback form.

Last day to provide feedback is Sunday 7 February 2021


Enquiries

Contact Council's Rates Information line on 02 9392 5859 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday or email myrates@innerwest.nsw.gov.au. Please note the line and email will not be staffed between 12.30pm 24 December 2020 and 8.30am 4 January 2021.


Need assistance?

If you'd like a hard copy form posted to you or help filling the online form contact Renata Krchnakova - Engagement Officer on 9392 5501 or Annie Coulthard - Senior Engagement Specialist on 9392 5328.

If you have a hearing or speech impairment:
Contact us on the National Relay Service you will need to provide Inner West Council's Rates Information Line on 02 9392 5859
These services operate Monday to Friday 9am-4pm on these numbers:

  • Voice Relay number: 1300 555 727
  • TTY number: 133 677
  • SMS relay number: 0423 677 767


What happens next?

Council officers will collate all comments into an Engagement Outcomes Report which will be published on this page before the matter goes to Council for a decision. Everyone who provides feedback will be notified of the date the matter is be considered by Council. If approved by Council an application will be sent to IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) to approve the minimum rate. IPART will invite community feedback to inform its decision. If approved, the new rating structure will come into effect on 1 July 2021.


The State Government will introduce a new bill into Parliament in early 2021. If passed, the bill will allow gradual rate harmonisation for amalgamated councils over four years, rather than a single year increase.

View the LGNSW media release

  • Decided by Council

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    05 Mar 2021

    At its follow up meeting on Monday 1 March 2021, Council passed the following motion:

    THAT Council:

    1. Writes to the Premier, Treasurer, the Minister for Local Government and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) noting:

    a) that we are being forced to harmonise rates and many in our community see this a unfair;

    b) harmonisation will lead to a major increase in rates for some residents in our community;

    c) if they insist on harmonisation then we must be able to phase the increases over 4 years and observe they not yet legislated to allow us to do this.

    2. Include in the letters to IPART the Council’s community engagement report on rates harmonisation as well as our preference for the minimum rates tabled below, should the rates harmonisation have to proceed. Further, that Council request from the Local Government Minister a specific timeline for when the legislative changes to the rating system will be tabled in the Parliament;
    Minimum Rates to apply from 1 July 2021 –

    • Residential - $850

    • Business – General - $820

    • Business – Industrial - $820

    • Business Shopping Malls - $820

    • Business Airport - $820

    3. Notes that the NSW Government is yet to adopt key recommendations of a 2016 IPART Local Government Rating System report which put forward a detailed review of the local government rating system and how to make the system fairer and more efficient;

    4. Responds in writing to everyone who made a submission to Council about the proposed changes to the rating structure, advising them of this resolution;

    5. Ensures all future communications to residents about rates harmonisation include reference to Council’s opposition to the NSW Government’s council rate harmonisation process; and

    6. Notes that a failure to set new minimum rates will result in a default minimum rate of $565 which will not equitably distribute the rate burden across the former council areas or require the majority of new ratepayers to contribute adequately to the cost of services made available by Inner West Council.

    Want to know more?

  • Council meeting update

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    25 Feb 2021

    On Tuesday 23 February 2021 Council met to discuss rates harmonisation without reaching a resolution.

    Council will meet again at an extraordinary meeting on Monday 1 March 2021 to continue the discussion.

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  • What we heard

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    15 Feb 2021

    Did you provide feedback about rates harmonisation? Find out what we heard in the Engagement Outcomes Report. The report will be considered by Council at an Extraordinary meeting.

    Additional information:

    Visit Council's meeting page for further details.