Randwick City Council’s award-winning Sustaining Our City program is one step closer to continuing after Randwick Councillors formally approved lodging an application to continue the levy that funds the program.

The Sustaining our City Environmental Levy has been in place for the past 20 years delivering important environmental initiatives across the City like Coastal Walkway upgrades, sustainability rebates and cleaner beaches, but is due to expire on 30 June 2024.

Randwick Councillors met on Tuesday 6 February 2024 to consider the outcomes of a comprehensive community consultation program undertaken in late 2023 and decided to proceed with lodging a Special Rate Variation (SRV) application with the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

For the average residential ratepayer, the annual levy makes up about $101 of their rates bill or about $1.95 per week.

Council’s consultation program found general support for the levy with those in support citing the importance of continuing to address environmental issues, positive impact of the proposed projects on the community and a feeling the levy was reasonable.

An independent telephone survey of 750 random and representative residents of the Randwick City community found 77% of respondents supportive or very supportive of the levy continuing.

While a survey sent to every ratepayer in Randwick City found 55% of the 7,639 respondents supportive.

Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch said continuing and making the Levy permanent is the right thing to do for the future of Randwick City.

“We know the rising cost of living is putting pressure on many households. But the cost of not taking action on avoiding waste, protecting our beaches and addressing climate change will cost us and our children more in the future,” Mayor Veitch said.

“Randwick City Council has a proud history of being a leader in a wide range of award-winning environmentally sustainable initiatives and programs.

“This funding enables Council to continue delivering rebates that are currently saving households $1M annually on energy bills, build new sections of Coastal Walkway and take meaningful action to address climate change by switching to renewables, conserving water and increasing our urban tree canopy coverage,” Mayor Veitch said.

Council’s application to continue the Environmental Levy will be submitted to IPART who then undertake their own thorough assessment including exhibiting the proposal again in March/April for further consultation. A decision is expected in May.

FACT SHEETS

Proposed Environmental Levy projects

More information: www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au/envirolevy2024

Media enquiries

Joshua Hay – 0402 351 459 or joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Jillian Lewis – 0436 839 761 or jillian.lewis@randwick.nsw.gov.au