Application and determination
Following extensive community engagement and the unanimous decision by Council at its Ordinary Council meeting in November 2022, Council submitted its application for a special rate variation (SRV) in January 2023. IPART announced Council was successful on 15 June 2023.
IPART assesses special variation applications against criteria set by the Office of Local Government. The criteria require Councils to demonstrate the need for the additional revenue, provide evidence that the community is aware of the need for and extent of a rate rise, exhibit relevant planning documents, explain council’s productivity and cost containment actions and plans, and establish that the impact on affected ratepayers is reasonable.
You can view Council’s application and IPART’s determination report on IPART's website here.
- Application Form Part A - Special Rate Variation (PDF 671.3KB)
- Application Form Part B - Special Rate Variation (PDF 2.1MB)
- Relevant Extracts from the Adopted 2022 IP&R Documents - Community Strategic Plan (PDF 718KB)
- Adopted Delivery Program 2022 to 2026 and Operational Plan 2023 to 2024 - Revised for a Special Rate Variation (PDF 13.3MB)
- Adopted Resourcing Strategy 2023 to 2033 - Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) - Revised for a Special Rate Variation (PDF 2.9MB)
- Communications and Engagement Plan - Phase 0 & 1 - Our Funded Future (PDF 774.1KB)
- Community Presentation Slidedeck - Phase 0 & 1 - Our Funded Future (PDF 1.4MB)
- Communications and Engagement Plan - Phase 2 - Rate Rise Options (PDF 832KB)
- Community Presentation Slidedeck - Phase 2 - Rate Rise Options (PDF 1.1MB)
- Communications and Engagement Plan - Phase 3 - Rate Rise (PDF 685KB)
- Communications and Engagement Report - Phase 0 & 1 - Our Funded Future (PDF 60.8MB)
- Communications and Engagement Report - Phase 2 - Rate Rise Options (PDF 11.4MB)
- Summary of Submissions - Public Exhibition IP&R Documents Revised for Special Rate Variation (PDF 345.7KB)
- Communications and Engagement Report - Phase 3 - Rate Rise (PDF 3.6MB)
- Debt Recovery and Hardship Policy (PDF 301.9KB)
- Resolution to Apply - Council Meeting 8 November 2022 (PDF 127.1KB)
- Signed Council Certification and contact information (PDF 42.1KB)
- Relevant Extracts - Adopted Resourcing Strategy 2023 to 2033 - Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) - Revised for a Special Rate Variation (PDF 858.8KB)
- Resolution to adopt revised IP&R documents - Council Meeting 8 November 2022 (PDF 127.1KB)
- Consolidated Reports - Independent Financial Analysis 2022 (PDF 4.4MB)
- Summary of Resolutions (PDF 1.3MB)
- Consolidated Council Reports (PDF 9.5MB)
- 2022 Delivery Program & LTFP - Draft I&R revised for Special Rate Variation and Adopted Workforce Management Strategy (PDF 61.8MB)
- Average Rates Tables & OLG5 Comparison Average Rates Projections (PDF 114.3KB)
- Infrastructure Assets Ratio Trend (PDF 86.8KB)
- Relevant Extracts Annual Report - Relevant Extracts Community Satisfaction Survey - IP&R Engagement Journey Snapshot (PDF 1.9MB)
- Extract Pages from PwC Local Government Performance Excellence Program FY22 - Port Stephens Council (PDF 7.4MB)
- LTFP and Ratios - Web Version (PDF 151.6KB)
- Web Links - Web Version (PDF 89.1KB)