Mayoral Column - 30 July 2025
Published on 30 July 2025
Cost shifting is one of the most serious challenges facing the local government sector, undermining financial sustainability. I raised the issue as a Mayoral Minute at our July Ordinary Council Meeting in the hope of raising more awareness about some of the challenges it puts before us, as a council. The latest research commissioned by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) reveals that $1.5 billion of expense has been imposed on NSW councils in 2023/24 alone, and this continues to grow.
On average, cost shifting has reached a level of $497.40 for each ratepayer. If like me, you pay your rates in quarterly instalments, that means more than one of your four rate bills is effectively going straight to another level of government.
It’s wrong and it needs to be addressed. Why?
Because it means our communities get less or go without. They go without safer roads. They go without parks, while instead we are effectively paying hidden taxes to other levels of government – and to put it in perspective, at levels exceeding our annual budget for road maintenance.
The Hunter Joint Organisation will now write to the Premier, NSW Treasurer and NSW Minister for Local Government on behalf of all Hunter councils, calling on them to urgently remedy this situation.
In other news, we adopted a Villages Strategy following community consultation. The Villages Strategy seeks to establish local character statements for five villages - Greta, Kearsley, Mulbring, North Rothbury and Wollombi/Laguna - in terms of their character, both now and into the future.
A range of actions are identified within the draft strategy to embed and support the character statements, create a sense of community, and enhance the environmental, social and economic prosperity of the villages. Important behind the scenes work like this helps preserve our wonderful communities. We’ve started with these gateway villages and will continue to expand to the strategy to include other villages in our LGA.
Finally this week, I’m excited to report that it’s almost time to pop the cork on Stomp Festival. Our dedicated team of organisers has been working hard to deliver a day of fun on the grounds of TAFE NSW Cessnock between 10am and 8pm on 2 August.
Entry is free for the festival that promises to be a vibrant celebration of world-class wine and artisan produce. Back by popular demand is the crowd-favourite grape stomping competition, for both the individual and corporate team categories. Visit www.stompfestival.com.au to secure your tickets in the grape stomping competition and for more event details.