Proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV)

UPDATE 18 December 2025

Community consultation for the proposed special rate variation closed on 14 November 2025.

At the 11 December 2025 Council Ordinary Meeting a report was presented detailing the consultation undertaken, submissions received, results from an independent community survey, and information on the key themes highlighted in the submissions.

Based on this report, the Councillors subsequently resolved, unanimously, as follows:

1. That Council acknowledges the feedback from the community consultation process undertaken for the proposed special rate variation to finance increased asset renewal and operational budgets.

2. In acknowledging this consultation Council remains of the opinion that it is reasonable to proceed with the proposed special variation application for the following reasons:

a) Increasing rate income is essential to adequately fund asset renewal and reduce the risk of infrastructure deterioration, along with maintaining essential services

b) The additional rate income generated will improve Council’s overall financial position and long-term financial sustainability

c) Council remains committed to ensuring that Council’s total rates and charges bill remains relatively affordable and comparatively lower than councils of similar scale and size, and every effort will be made to minimise increases in other annual charges during the four-year period of the special rate variation, subject to Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approval.

3. That Council authorises the General Manager to apply to IPART for a special rate variation based on 6% per annum for the four-year period from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

Next steps

With Council resolving to proceed with the proposed SRV, Council will now make an SRV application to IPART, by 2 February 2026.

IPART will then assess the application, taking into account Council’s financial position and the community feedback. IPART will also seek further community feedback, and information on the IPART process is available as per the following link: Special Variations | IPART

At the conclusion of this process, IPART will determine whether the SRV application is approved in full, partially approved, or refused. It is anticipated that IPART will advise Council on the outcome of our application during May 2026.

Council acknowledges that an SRV, if approved, will place increased financial pressure on ratepayers, and every effort has been made to minimise the amount of the SRV. Council is also committed to minimising increases in other Council charges, such as waste collection, water and wastewater, during the period of the SRV, if approved.

Ballina Shire Council has consistently managed finances carefully, delivering strong services while keeping rates around 11% lower than similar-sized councils.

However, the rising construction costs and the expansion of our infrastructure network means the cost of maintaining roads, footpaths, parks, and community facilities now exceeds the income we receive.

At the same time, councils across NSW are facing extra costs that were previously covered by other levels of government, but our income hasn’t kept up.

This funding gap puts pressure on the services you rely on every day. A Special Rate Variation (SRV) will allow Council to continue providing key services, maintain infrastructure and invest in future needs.

Without extra funding, we may face tough decisions as a community – including the risk of some services being cut, reduced, or stopped altogether.

Proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV)

The proposal is for a 6% increase to general rates each year from 2026/27 to 2029/30. This includes the usual annual ‘rate peg’ set by IPART (estimated to be 3.25%) plus an additional 2.75% through the proposed SRV.

Because the increases are cumulative, this would result in a total rise of about 26.25% over four years. Without the SRV, the total increase would be around 13.65% over the same period.

How much more will I pay if the SRV is approved?

By the end of the four-year Special Rate Variation period (2029/30), the increase for the average Ballina Shire residential ratepayer would be an additional $346. This is $166 more than if no Special Rate Variation were applied.

If approved, this would be a permanent increase to the general rates, and following the four-year SRV period (2030/31 onwards), revised total rates would increase by the usual annual ‘rate peg’ percentage.

This table and forecasted figures are based on average land values and a proposed rate increase of 6.0% from 2026/27 to 2029/30, which includes an estimated rate peg of 3.25%. Individual rates vary depending on your land value (determined by the NSW Valuer General).

Where will the money be spent?

If approved, the additional income would allow Council to invest and renew infrastructure such as roads, footpaths, stormwater systems, open spaces, sporting fields, playgrounds and community facilities.

Where can I get more information?

1. Try our online rates calculator
2. Read our FAQs section