“Show some respect”: North Sydney Mayor shouts at residents during fiery rate hike meeting.

By ANNA USHER

North Sydney Council has voted to increase its rates by more than 87 per cent over two years at an explosive council meeting on Monday night.

A hostile gallery erupted in anger as the special rate variation (SRV) was passed by the Council after 40 residents took turns to give their opinions on the hike.

Independent Mayor Zoë Baker shouted, “This is an outrage”, and “Show some respect” as she attempted on various occasions to keep order. At the same time, those in the gallery screamed “stand down” at councillors supporting the rate rise.

The motion ultimately passed 7-3, with the SRV application now headed for NSW’s independent regulator, IPART, which will make a final decision.

If approved, the SRV would permanently increase rates over two years and remain in perpetuity.

It would see minimum residential rates in the area more than double from $715 a year to $1,548 by mid-2026, and minimum business rates jump from $715 to $1,806 at the same time.

The situation was so heated at one point that Mayor Zoe Baker, an independent, angrily clashed with the public gallery and snapped: “You’re happy to listen to the Liberal Party councillors, but you will not listen to those who aren’t!”

Most speakers strongly opposed the hike.

Local Julie Townsend-Medlock said community anger was “the tip of the iceberg” as many deal with cost-of-living pressures.

“North Sydney residents have been under enormous pressure over the past few years, which has significantly strained many households,” Ms Townsend said.

Resident Justin Curry told Council of his “horror” at the proposed increase.

“I’ll be paying $300 per week in rates for no extra benefit,” he said. “My neighbour, an 82-year-old woman, will also pay $300 a week. You have people who are asset-rich and cash poor, elderly women living on teachers’ pensions. It’s outrageous.”

Some of those assembled called for a Council asset sell-off, with others railing against the consultation process, which took place during the Christmas break.

Lavender Bay local Robert Stint aimed at the Mayor, saying the Council’s financial crisis was never mentioned during local government elections last year.

“The council does not have an electoral mandate for this rate rise,” he said.

There were, however, a handful of people who supported the proposed rate rise.

Describing himself as one of the “silent majority,” resident John Hancock said rates in North Sydney had been a bargain for many years.

Wollstonecraft retiree Jennifer Sumsion supported the rise, which would help maintain local services as the LGA faces a “rapidly increasing population density.

Mayor Baker said the rate hike was necessary due to “more than a decade of neglect by the former Liberal-aligned council”.

Deputy Mayor Godfrey Santer, who also voted for the rate rise, said the Council’s financial crisis was “deeper than the (North Sydney Olympic) Pool”.

He said he did not think selling council assets would improve the financial situation.

The disastrous redevelopment of North Sydney Olympic Pool, which has seen projected costs blow out from around $30 million to a total estimate of $122 million, has left the Council with $61 million in external debt and drained internal infrastructure reserves of another $30 million.

Non-rates revenue, such as parking, have fallen by another $9.9 million, leaving Council facing a “liquidity crisis” and the “need for the rate rise to secure financial sustainability for the next generation”, Mayor Baker said.

How they voted:

Which Councillors voted for – and against – the 87% rate hike?

Zoe Baker (IND) – FOR
Godfrey Santer (LAB) – FOR
Nicole Antonini (IND) – FOR
MaryAnn Beregi (IND) – FOR
Efi Carr (LIB) – AGAINST
Chris Holding (IND) – FOR
Angus Hoy (GREEN) – FOR
Jessica Keen (LIB) – AGAINST
James Spenceley (IND) – AGAINST
Shannon Welch (LAB) – FOR