7 OCTOBER 2022
ISSUE 362
News
As the region braces itself for bushfire and storm season, now both officially underway, Central Coast Council is urging residents to ‘Get Ready’ for future events. See page 4
So Long Matty, and thanks for all the goals
Out&About
After 15 years in the A-League, Mariners legend and homegrown hero, Matt Simon, has officially announced his retirement from professional football. See page 32
First adapted for the stage in the late 1990s from the hit 1994 movie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical is as relevant today as when it was first written with its themes of inclusivity and acceptance. See page 13
Business
Mariners legend, Matt Simon (fourth from left)
Is another increase in rates coming? Another rate rise could be on the cards for Central Coast residents if Council decides to apply for the 3.8 per cent rate peg rise approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for the region for 2023-24. IPART has set the 2023-24 base rate peg for NSW councils at 3.7 per cent, with an allowance for level of population growth meaning some councils will have rate pegs of up to 6.8 per cent. The Central Coast peg has been set at 3.8 per cent. IPART says the rate peg protects ratepayers from “excessive increases in Council rates by limiting the total amount by which councils can
increase income from rates each year”. But this could be cold comfort to ratepayers still reeling from an announcement in May that a Special Rate Variation (SRV), allowing for a 13 per cent increase on Central Coast rates (outside the rate peg) until 2031 had been approved. An IPART spokesperson confirmed that Council could adopt the 3.8 per cent rate peg rise on top of the 13 per cent SRV approved for 20 years from July 1, 2021. IPART says the increase is below the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) year-ended Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate of 5.3 per cent to June 2022. IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly
said higher inflation means that councils are facing increased costs in delivering services to the communities they serve. “We have taken these increased costs into consideration while also trying to limit the level of rate increases that ratepayers are facing,” she said. “IPART does not set the actual rates that households and businesses pay, which is a decision for councils and their communities. “However, councils must set those rates to ensure that the change in total rates income stays below the rate peg limit.” IPART is currently reviewing the methodology it will use to set the rate peg from 2024-25
and is calling for public submissions to the Issues Paper which is available on IPART’s website until November 4. “We will be looking at new approaches to setting the rate peg that reflect, as far as possible, changes in inflation and local government costs, while continuing to protect ratepayers from excessive rate increases,” Donnelly said. IPART will also be consulting with stakeholders during workshops to be held in November. A Draft Report will be released in February 2023, setting out draft findings and recommendations. IPART will then take further submissions on the Draft Report and hold a public
hearing early next year, most likely in March. A Council spokesperson said rate increases are capped by IPART and vary due to movements in a range of costs and an allowance for growth. “Last year that figure was set at 1 per cent; this year there has been a significant increase in a range of costs, in particular construction costs and energy. “Consequently a cap of 3.8 per cent has been set for next year. “Council will advertise its rates in late April/May, 2023, as part of its Operational Plan and Budget. “Public submissions on that will be considered and the final document including rates will be adopted in late June, 2023.”
Three Central Coast hotels are in contention for Best Regional Hotel of the Year, along with several other local finalists across a variety of categories in the 2022 Australian Hotel Association NSW Awards. See page 21
Sport
Avoca Beach junior surfer Talia Tebb has taken out the Under 12 Girls’ title at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Qualifier and is now guaranteed a spot in the national final, to be held in Melbourne next March. See page 31
Terry Collins
Puzzles page 18
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