Furious residents, MPs protest Northern Beaches Council’s proposed rate hike of almost 40 per cent

Outraged residents are pushing back against a Sydney council’s huge proposed rate hike.

Northern Beaches Council staff proposed a 39.6 per cent rate rise, which would mean an average annual increase of $673 for households and $1611 for business, following a community survey.

Liberal MPs James Griffin and Matt Cross issued a joint statement claiming the council was “out of touch with the community”.

Panoramic drone aerial view over Dee Why beach and Dee Why lagoon, Northern Beaches Sydney NSW Australia
Locals in Northern Beaches suburbs have protested the proposed rate hike. Pictured: Dee Why. (Getty)

“There is community outrage with this proposal that will negatively impact local households and small businesses,” the members for Manly and Davidson said.

“It will place even greater cost of living pressures on our community.”

Griffin and Cross accused the councillors of “ignoring” the majority of residents and “losing control” of the budget.

Furious locals against the nearly 40 per cent rise are planning to protest the proposed hike at a council meeting tomorrow.

Some residents have already taken to the streets and picketed against the rise.

Members of the Northern Beaches Peoples Voice Facebook page also slammed the proposal and gathered support for the protest on social media.

NEWS: Daily life North Curl-Curl. 11th October, 2024. Photo: Wolter Peeters, The Sydney Morning Herald.
Some residents have already taken to the streets and picketed against the rise. Pictured: Curl Curl Beach. (Photo: Wolter Peeters)

Sydney’s Northern Beaches council encompasses suburbs including Manly, Brookvale, Balgowlah, Newport, Mona Vale, Seaforth, Dee Why and Frenchs Forrest.

9news.com.au has contacted Northern Beaches Council for comment.

The survey found 51 per cent of Northern Beaches ratepayers supported a lower rise of 10.7 per cent, while 49 per cent backed a bigger hike of between 31.1 per cent and 46 per cent over three years, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

After the survey results were released, the council recommended a rise of 39.6 per cent.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *