Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

‘Cost shifting’ disputed
News
‘Every dollar we pay in
levies and subsidies to
the State Government is
one less dollar we can put
into our local roads and
footpaths, our parks and
community centres.’
Pittwater MP Rory Amon has called
out Northern Beaches Council for
crying poor after Council blamed
the former Liberal Coalition Government
for leaving ratepayers $39 million worse
off due to “cost shifting” in 2022.
Council said ratepayers were out of
pocket $379 per ratepayer due to cost
shifting from the then NSW Government
in that year.
But Mr Amon explained money was
never “free”, as it came from the State
Government and the taxpayer “always
foots the bill”.
A former Councillor, Mr Amon said he
expected Councils to fight to minimise
costs they felt they paid for.
“But I also expect Councils to be as
efficient as possible,” he said.
“In the past, our Council spent $13 million
on new bins we didn’t want or need.”
He highlighted that in 2021/22, Northern
Beaches Council received revenue
from State and Federal Governments and
other sources of $71 million – confirmed
in Council’s 2021-’22 financial statement.
“Council also says that cost shifting
cost it $39 million in that same year. In
2021/’22, Council seemed to be a net beneficiary
of Government and other funding
to the tune of at least $22 million.
“I will let residents form their own view.”
But Council maintains that cost shifting
saw it out of pocket $39 million in
2021/’22.
It said a Local Government NSW-commissioned
Cost Shifting Report revealed
Northern Beaches Council paid the highest
Emergency Services Levy in 2021/’22
($6.4 million – $62 per ratepayer and
28 per cent more than the next highest
Council), while its Emergency Services
Levy increased to $9.3 million, equivalent
to $90 per ratepayer.
The report was produced by independent
consultants, Morrison Low, for the
2021/’22 financial year which calculated
an amount of $1.36 billion in costs has
been passed on to councils across NSW.
This was an increase of $540 million
since the last report, from 2017/’18.
Mayor Sue Heins said increasing cost
shifting put a huge burden on the financial
stability of local government.
“Every dollar we pay in levies and subsidies
to the State Government is one less
dollar we can put into our local roads
and footpaths, our parks and community
centres,” she said.
“Put simply it constrains our ability to
maintain our community infrastructure
and sustain the same level of service to
our community. Our Asset Management
Plan (2022-2032) identifies an infrastructure
funding gap of $151 million over 10
years.
“Our community deserve better and
this must stop.”
Mayor Heins encouraged the Minns
Government to consider how cost shifting
was resulting in lost services, lost
opportunity and lost amenity for NSW
residents and businesses.
“And do something to fix it,” she said.
– Nigel Wall
‘Rethink Avalon traffic island’
Pittwater Ward Councillor
Miranda Korzy
Rory Amon.
wrote to Pittwater MP
is calling for a rethink
“Although I’ve had
of the new pedestrian island
responses to my emails,
on Barrenjoey Road
so far I haven’t heard of
due to safety concerns.
any progress.”
“Because of all the
Also, Ms Korzy said
changes to Avalon’s
she would like to see the
speed limit on Barrenjoey
Rd through Avalon
roads over the past year
or so, this is the one I’m
reduced to 40km/h, at
most concerned about –
least during school start
we need to fix this crossing
area before there’s
and finish times, due to
the number of students
a tragic accident,” Ms
crossing at those times.
Korzy said.
“Without a footpath
She added that during
between Kamikaze Corner
and Avalon Pde, we
the week, kids “corralled”
on the island, on
have cars travelling at
their way to Barrenjoey
60km/h or more along
High or Avalon Primary,
here literally centimetres
from pedestrians
DANGER: The
and were surrounded
crossing on
by cars, often travelling
Barrenjoey Rd. – not to mention on the
at high speed as drivers
stretch outside the surf
rushed to work.
refuge was also busy with and prams, elderly people, club.”
“When there’s a break in the holidaymakers going to the dogs and those on bikes and She welcomed current
traffic, they weave around the beach.
skateboards, negotiate the Council consultation on
vehicles, some still moving, “I often cross here myself traffic.”
parking around Avalon PS
with others backed up from with my heart in my mouth She said she raised these and encouraged residents to
the red light on Avalon Pde. watching everyone, including issues with Council staff in comment on the proposals on
“Over summer, the island mums and dads with toddlers December and more recently Council’s website. – NW
16 APRIL 2024
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