Special Rates Variation Proposal

Exhibition of Council’s Special rate Variation Proposal for Roads and Infrastructure

Hawkesbury City Council is seeking your feedback on a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) to help renew and maintain our essential infrastructure, especially roads. Our adopted plans including the Asset Management Strategy 2025-2035 identify a current $99.1 million asset renewal shortfall that is projected to reach $170 million over the next decade without additional funding.

With more than $1.45 billion in assets across a large, disaster-prone region, current income is not sufficient to keep roads, stormwater and community facilities at the level our community expects. During our recent engagement activities, roads and infrastructure were repeatedly highlighted as the number one priority for the future of the Hawkesbury.

The Proposal

The proposal being exhibited is an increase of 11.73% per year for three years from 2026/27 to 2028/29 (including an assumed 3.9% rate peg each year). This increase would be retained in the base permanently, with normal rate-peg limits applying from 2029/30. The SRV would apply across all rating categories (Residential, Business and Farmland).

All funding raised would be dedicated to renewing existing assets, guided by Council’s Asset Management Strategy and Long Term Financial Plan. Under current modelling, the SRV would enable around $161 million in additional renewal funding by 2035/36, prioritising works on roads and stormwater to improve safety, reliability and value for money.

What you will get for your money

As a guide, the SRV would allow Council to do the following each year:

Community Awareness and Engagement

Council will provide information to all ratepayers and seek feedback through a mailout, community survey, public information sessions, Your Hawkesbury Your Say engagement page, and multiple methods to lodge feedback.

All information and feedback collected will be considered by Council prior to a decision being made whether to proceed with an application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Public Information Sessions

Online and in person sessions to be confirmed – check back here for dates soon.

How to make a Submission

Have your say on the proposal between 11 September and 26 October 2025.

Key documents including the FAQ’s and example Capital Programs are listed under the Documents tab on this page, or can be viewed at:

• Council’s Administration Building, 366 George Street, Windsor, Monday to Friday during opening hours.
• Hawkesbury Central Library, 300 George St, Windsor NSW 2756 and Richmond Branch Library, 29 West Market St, Richmond NSW 2753 during opening hours.
  
  

Council will receive submissions via:

• The Survey Tab below
• In writing addressed to the General Manager, by mail to Hawkesbury City Council, PO Box 146 Windsor NSW 2756, or
• By email to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

The last day for the receipt of submissions is 26 October 2025.

Should you have any enquiries with respect to this matter, please contact Council’s Customer Service Team on (02) 4560 4444 or attention email enquiries to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au with reference to the Special Rate Variation Proposal.

Should you lodge a submission, it will be considered, along with any other submissions received and may be included in Council’s meeting business paper. Your submission, including any personal information is accessible by any person upon written application, subject to Council’s Privacy Management Plan and the Government Information (Public Access) Act, 2009. The inclusion of personal information in your submission is voluntary, however, if not provided, may affect consideration of the submission. The information will ultimately be stored in Council’s records system.