Securing our Future

Consultation on a rate increase for Lake Macquarie closed on 30 November.

Over the past six months Council has received feedback from thousands of residents about Council services and the proposed rate increases. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate during the consultation period.

Outcomes of the consultation demonstrate clear community support for a rate increase, with 72% of participants supportive of a rate increase above the estimated rate peg of 3%. Of all respondents, 50% gave their support for Option 3, which will improve services and assets across the city.

Council unanimously endorsement Option 3 at an extraordinary meeting of Council on December 15, allowing an application for Option 3 to be made to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.

The consultation outcomes confirm what we've heard previously, that Lake Macquarie residents do not want to see Council services cut or assets sold off. They value what Council provides and would like to see our City continue to develop as a great place to live and work, with quality services and infrastructure and a healthy natural environment.

3,257 residents responded to the opportunity to tell Council their preferred option. More than 1784 responded by mail, 661 completed our online survey, 279 took part in our electronic polling at community workshops, 5 written responses, and another 528 responded via an independent and statistically representative phone survey.

The three funding options were developed as part of the community engagement process which commenced in June this year. Consultation was designed to gather feedback not only on the preferred funding option, but on residents' willingness and ability to pay for the proposed rate increases under each option.