Hawkesbury ratepayers will face a cumulative 39.4 per cent increase in council rates over the next four years after the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approved Hawkesbury City Council's Special Rate Variation application in full.
The determination allows Council to increase its general rates income by 8.66 per cent each year over the next four years, generating millions of dollars in additional revenue earmarked for roads and infrastructure renewal across the local government area.
The decision follows months of intense community debate, public meetings, surveys, petitions and submissions from residents concerned about both the state of local infrastructure and the impact of rising household costs.
Council argued that the increase was necessary to address a growing infrastructure funding gap, particularly in relation to roads. In its application to IPART, Council stated it was facing a significant asset renewal backlog and warned that without additional revenue the condition of roads and other community assets would continue to deteriorate.
Under the approved variation, all additional revenue must be spent on infrastructure renewal and upgrades, with a strong focus on road improvements. Council has indicated that future operational plans will identify specific projects to be funded through the additional income.
The determination represents one of the largest cumulative rate increases approved for Hawkesbury residents in recent years.
While the annual increase is 8.66 per cent, the effect compounds over four years, resulting in an overall increase of approximately 39.4 per cent compared with current rates. The increase applies to the rates component of rate notices and does not include separate waste, stormwater or other charges.
The decision comes after extensive community consultation.
According to Council, more than 2,300 submissions were received during its consultation process, while IPART received hundreds of additional submissions and survey responses directly from Hawkesbury residents. Council says Hawkesbury residents were among the most engaged communities in NSW during the assessment process.
However, community sentiment throughout the consultation period was deeply divided.
Many residents acknowledged the need for improved roads and infrastructure but questioned whether Council had adequately controlled spending, prioritised projects appropriately or demonstrated that all alternative funding options had been exhausted before seeking a substantial increase from ratepayers.
Opposition groups and community campaigners also argued that many households were already struggling with rising mortgage repayments, insurance costs, electricity bills and other cost-of-living pressures. Public petitions opposing the increase attracted significant support.
The approval also comes less than a decade after IPART approved a previous Hawkesbury Special Rate Variation that increased rates by 9.5 per cent annually over three years. Some residents questioned why another major increase was necessary so soon after the earlier rise.
Council maintains the new funding is essential to improving long-term financial sustainability and addressing infrastructure renewal requirements that have continued to grow over time.
The approved increase will now be incorporated into Council's 2026-27 Operational Plan, which is expected to be formally adopted later this month. Council has indicated that roads and parks projects funded through the Special Rate Variation will be identified as part of that process.
For residents, the decision means higher rates notices beginning from the new financial year.
For Council, it represents a significant vote of confidence from the state's pricing regulator.
For the community, however, the debate is unlikely to end with IPART's approval. Many residents will now be watching closely to ensure that the promised road and infrastructure improvements are delivered and that the additional money collected from ratepayers produces visible and measurable results.
With a 39.4 per cent increase now locked in over four years, accountability for how those funds are spent is likely to become one of the most closely scrutinised issues facing Hawkesbury City Council.
