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”.
“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.
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.
