Environmental Levy

Randwick Council will submit a request to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to continue an Environmental Levy until 2024, following a decision by Council at an Extraordinary Meeting on Tuesday 12 February 2019.

A report to the Council summarised the results of a seven week consultation program run from 20 November to 9 January which found widespread awareness of the levy and the sustainability programs it funds.

A survey sent to every business and residential ratepayer revealed 54% of the 5,823 respondents supported the continuation of the levy. In addition, a telephone survey of 600 random and representative residents and ratepayers found 72% support for the levy.

The Environmental Levy has been in place since 2004 and has helped extend the Coastal Walkway through South Coogee, Malabar Headland and Cape Banks as well as irrigating coastal parks with recycled stormwater. It also funds other environmental initiatives such as Gross Pollutant Traps which improve water quality runoff at our beaches and environmental programs, workshops and festivals like Eco-Living Expo.

IPART will publicly exhibit Council’s request, which will be open to further comments from the community, throughout February and March 2019 and will announce its decision in May 2019.

Should IPART approve the application to continue the levy, it will represent an average of 25 cents per day, or $91.49 per year, for the average residential ratepayer.

Links

• Community Consultation Report
• Telephone Survey Report

Randwick City Councillors will meet at an Extra Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 12 February 2019 to consider the results of the community consultation on the continuation of the Environmental Levy.

Community consultation results

• Community Consultation Report Environmental Levy 2019 (2.29 MB) (pdf)
• Community Consultation Report - Attachment A - Telephone Survey Report (1010 KB) (pdf)
• Community Consultation Report - Attachment B - Ratepayer Survey Information Booklet and Letter (1.92 MB) (pdf)

• Continuation of Environmental Levy (12 February 2019 Council Meeting. NOTE: Business paper will go live 8 February 2019)

Randwick City residents and ratepayers can have their say on whether an Environmental Levy in place for the past 15 years should continue for another five years as part of a four-week community consultation period commencing today, 20 November 2018.

The levy – which has helped extend the Coastal Walkway through South Coogee, Malabar Headland and Cape Banks as well as irrigating coastal parks with recycled stormwater – is due to expire on 30 June 2019.

The levy also funds other environmental initiatives such as Gross Pollutant Traps which improve water quality runoff at our beaches and environmental programs, workshops and festivals like Eco-Living Expo.

Council must make an application for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) by 11 February 2019 should it wish to continue the levy.

“As a long-time local resident, a Councillor and now as Mayor, I’ve seen the progress we’ve been able to make because of the funding from the levy,” Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson said.

“At an average of 25 cents per day or $91.49 per year for the average residential ratepayer, it’s a small amount that makes a big difference.

“We’re asking residents and ratepayers whether they want to continue a levy already included in the rates to deliver some great environmental programs.

“Discontinuing the levy means we’ll have to reprioritise our works programs – this means some of the environmental programs we’ve been delivering won’t continue while others will take longer or result in other works programs not happening,” Randwick Mayor Kathy Neilson said.

In May 2018, Randwick Council received approval from IPART for a 19.85% cumulative SRV to fund the Our Community Our Future program over three years which commenced July 2018.

Should the Environmental Levy continue, the overall cumulative increase for ratepayers over the next five years (from July 2019) will be 19.91% including the already approved Our Community Our Future SRV. Should the Environmental Levy not continue, the cumulative increase will be 12.44%.

Impact of continuing Environmental Levy

How to have your say

• Ratepayer survey. Every ratepayer will receive a letter, information booklet and survey in the mail. Complete the survey using the reply paid envelope or online using the link provided.
• Online. Visit www.lightrailtorandwick.com.au to lodge a submission.
• Information sessions. Attend an information session on 28 Nov, 6 Dec or 12 Dec.
• Email. Submissions can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Council.
• In person. Documents can be viewed at Council’s Administration Centre and Libraries.

All submissions must be received by Council by 5pm 18 December 2018.

Media enquiries:

Chelsea Hunter – 0419 694 983 or [email protected]
Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or [email protected]