It is a requirement by the NSW Government that Northern Beaches Council harmonises rates by 1 July 2021.

Harmonisation provides a fair and equitable approach to rates collection, ensuring those within each category or sub-category with the same land value pay the same for the same level of Council service.

Currently, some ratepayers with the same land values as others within the same rates category or sub-category are paying more than others and this is not fair or equitable for the long term.

No, harmonisation is about taking the current level of rates income and distributing it more evenly across the whole Northern Beaches area.

It’s about ensuring those within each category or sub-category with the same land value pay the same for the same level of Council service.

Currently, there are differences in how rates are calculated in each of the former council areas. Harmonisation will align how rates are calculated to ensure that rates are levied consistently and fairly across our whole area.

This will result in variations in rates for some ratepayers as we align the rating structures of the former councils.

Under one of the models currently on exhibition, 76% of residential properties and 62% of business properties (which are only subject to ordinary rates) will see a decrease in their rates.

You can see the proposed variation to your rates by putting your address into our calculator.

This tool is no longer available as consultation has closed.

The calculator provides your current rates and charges for a full financial year and estimates the changes under the proposed harmonised rating structure. It also shows how this could be gradually implemented over several years if the NSW Government pass legislative changes.

* Important notes about the calculator:

• The calculator estimates your rates based on information at a point in time.
• Estimates are provided for indicative purposes only to demonstrate how we are proposing to harmonise rates and may vary from your actual rates when levied.
• Future years do not include changes in rates due to the annual rate peg increase or the impact of new land valuations, or changes in waste charges.
• Additional items such as pensioner rebates, waste availability charges or additional waste services may also apply.
• The NSW Government are currently considering a change to legislation to allow the gradual harmonisation of rates over four years. Our proposed gradual implementation shows how your rates could change if we harmonise minimum rates and stormwater charges from 1 July 2022 and gradually harmonise ad valorem rates starting from 1 July 2022.
• The gradual harmonisation of rates and our ability to not apply any changes until 1 July 2022 are subject to the passing of proposed legislation by the NSW Government as well as the adoption of these changes by the elected Council.

The above chart demonstrates the differences in average residential rates per $100,000 of land value between the three former council areas in relation to the average for Northern Beaches Council. Former Warringah residents contribute more than the Northern Beaches Council average and the residents of the former Manly and Pittwater areas contribute less.

To right this inequity, the former Manly council area will experience an increase in both minimum and ad valorem residential rates under harmonisation, and in the former Pittwater council area minimum rates will increase.

It is worth noting that while paying lower rates, former Manly ratepayers paid significantly higher waste collection and management charges than the other former Council areas. Council has already harmonised these waste charges which has provided hundreds of dollars in savings for most former Manly residential ratepayers.

When this is considered as part of the rates harmonisation process, the average former Manly residential ratepayer has not experienced an increase in rates and annual charges of more than 1.9% year on year since amalgamation. The average former Pittwater residential ratepayer has experienced a decrease in rates and annual charges of 0.1% year on year since amalgamation.

The above chart demonstrates the differences in average ordinary business rates per $100,000 of land value between the three former council areas in relation to the average for Northern Beaches Council. Former Warringah business ratepayers contribute more than the Northern Beaches Council average and the ordinary business ratepayers of the former Manly and Pittwater areas contribute less than the average.

To right this inequity, ordinary business ratepayers in the former Manly and the former Pittwater council areas will experience an increase under harmonisation.

Harmonisation provides a consistent, fair and equitable approach to rates collection, ensuring those with the same land value within each category or sub-category pay the same for the same level of Council service.

Overall Council will not be collecting any more revenue than we do now (excluding IPART approved rate peg).

Since amalgamation Council has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure across the area, paid down much of the debt of the former Councils and increased services.

Read the Merger Performance Report.

We have been actively working with the Minister for Local Government, and the Office of Local Government to advocate for the introduction of a gradual harmonisation process to ensure ratepayers will not experience a greater than 10% increase on rates (excluding the rate peg and land revaluation adjustments).

We understand that the draft legislation regarding gradual harmonisation is currently being finalised and is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Council provides options and assistance to any ratepayer who may be experiencing genuine financial hardship, and who may be struggling to pay their rates.

Any ratepayer experiencing problems paying their rates, should contact council staff as soon as possible to discuss their situation.

As part of the harmonisation process we have made minor changes to the Hardship Policy.

Council is seeking community feedback on the proposed rating option structure, associated hardship and pensioner concession policies and Stormwater Management Service charges by 7 February 2021.

Council will consider all community feedback at the Council meeting on 23 February 2021 and will formulate a draft Revenue Policy.