Your rates notice has a new line on it. Here is why

If your next rates notice looks longer than usual, this is the reason. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, the NSW body that sets what councils may charge, has determined that Central Coast Council will transfer its stormwater drainage charge onto general rates in full, council announced in June. The charge applies to most properties on the Coast and pays for maintaining, upgrading and expanding the region’s stormwater drainage network.

Does it cost me more?

Not because of the transfer, according to council’s announcement: the only change to the amount affected ratepayers pay as a result of the move is the 3.2 per cent rate peg IPART separately determined, the annual cap on how much council rates can rise, and that increase applies regardless of where the stormwater line sits. Mayor Lawrie McKinna put it directly: “Most importantly, people won’t be paying more because of this change. The stormwater charge is just moving from your water bill to your general rates bill.”

Why bother moving it?

Because the law required a response, not because anyone at Wyong woke up wanting new paperwork. Chief Executive Officer David Farmer: “This process was triggered by a legislative change that Council was required to respond to. IPART’s decision means Council can maintain the same level of funding from the charge and continue to deliver critical stormwater and other valued services without disruption.”

The transfer went through IPART’s Special Variation process, which requires public consultation. Council reports more than 1,300 submissions were received and considered before the application went in.