Hunter ratepayers poised to pay more as population booms

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Hunter residents are facing a significant hike to their council rates next financial year.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has pegged the 2023-24 base rate for NSW councils at 3.7 percent, a stark increase on this year's 0.7 percent.

While Newcastle and Lake Macquarie will stick to the base rate, the potential peg's been set as high as 4.4 percent in Port Stephens, and 5.9 percent in Maitland, the second-highest in the state.

IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly says it's a mechanism for regions experiencing population growth, however, and not all ratepayers will see the same rate hike in the same council area.

"The amount that's for a population factor is just about recognising that there needs to be, if you like, a bigger bucket because there's a bigger population," she said.

"It's shared amongst more people."

Higher inflation has also meant councils are facing bigger costs to deliver services, though the upcoming base rate is still below Australia's current rate of inflation.

Port Stephens Council is already seeking input from the community on a potential special variation to help alleviate the city's financial woes - either a one-off 26 percent hike, or 10.5 percent each year for three years.

Port Stephens, as well as Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock, and Muswellbrook have also been granted special rate increases for the current year, from 0.7 percent to 2.5 percent.

Maitland residents could be in for a bigger shock when it comes to costs, however, the council previously choosing to stick with the 0.7 percent peg.

Maitland Council General Manager David Evans says there's a lot to consider, and ratepayers shouldn't jump to conclusions ahead of the next financial year.

"It's important to stress, that one, it's a maximum," he said. "It's not an obligation on council to take up the full amount of that rate peg."

"The decision truly is a decision that can only be made once we start to move through our budgeting processes."

"The other important point is that it's a percentage increase that applies to Council's total rate yield. It's across the whole of the local government area. It's not a percentage that applies to any one individual rate notice."

Taking into account the population factor, here's what the base rate peg will look like in your council area.

• Cessnock - 3.8 percent
• Dungog - 4.4 percent
• Lake Macquarie - 3.7 percent
• Maitland - 5.9 percent
• Muswellbrook - 3.7 percent
• Newcastle - 3.7 percent
• Port Stephens - 4.4 percent
• Singleton - 3.9 percent
• Upper Hunter - 3.7 percent

Data Reveals Newcastle Has $2.94 Million in Unclaimed Money Sitting in Revenue NSW

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Hunter residents are being urged to check if they are eligible for a portion of the millions of dollars waiting to be claimed through Revenue NSW.

Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said more than $442 million in forgotten money, including

$2.94 million in Newcastle, was sitting with Revenue NSW, including share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commissions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources.

“We know many people are doing it tough, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and households are having to keep a close eye on their budget, which is why I encourage people to check their eligibility. You could have hundreds or thousands of dollars that you didn’t know about,” Mr Tudehope said. 

“This money belongs to the people of NSW and I want to make sure it goes back to its rightful owners.”

Revenue NSW holds more than a million unclaimed items from private companies, State Trustees, local councils and government agencies that can’t be returned to the owner because their contact details are out of date and they cannot be tracked down.

“It’s quick and easy to check if you have unclaimed money. Simply visit the Revenue NSW website and type your name into the free search tool. If you do have a claim, notify Revenue NSW and collect your money,” Mr Tudehope said.

“It only takes a few minutes and you could walk away with some extra money in your pocket.”

The NSW Government holds unclaimed money indefinitely until it is claimed."

Unclaimed money by regional LGA as at 16 April 2020:

Location	Money available to claim
Newcastle	$2.94 million
Central Coast	$4.4 million
Wollongong	$3.4 million
Port Macquarie-Hastings	$813,000
Tamworth	$868,000
Tweed Heads	$737,000
Orange	$681,000
Dubbo	$699,000
Coffs Harbour	$661,000
Wagga Wagga	$667,000
Albury	$594,000
Bathurst	$546,000

Supercars Revealed as Major Money-Spinner for Newcastle

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The results are in from last year's Newcastle 500 event, with the Supercars shown to have generated $30.1 million for the city.

The Hunter Research Foundation has used mobile phone data, banking records and business transactions to conclude there was close to $5 million directly spent in Newcastle by event organisers, $9 million by attendees and almost $10 million in flow-on effects.

The analysis did not look at the Hunter's other local government areas, and it's believed Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie also reaped the rewards of the 3-day event.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the huge financial figures were due to an influx of visitors.

"We can confirm that just in the Newcastle precinct, above and beyond the residential population, there was 83,000 visitors who attended the event," she said. 

109,000 locals brought the total participation rate up to 192,000 people. 

As most visitors paid for their accomodation well in advance of the Supercars, that spending wasn't included in the HRF analysis. It's believed with that money included, the total injected into local hotels could be much higher. 

"While this research means we can now quantify the economic boost for the city," the Lord Mayor said, "the advertising benefits from the phenomenal media coverage with regards to long-term tourism are harder to quantify." 

However, it's believed the value of coverage is estimated at $1 million, while social media posts about the Newcastle 500 reached 630,000 users. 

With figures like that, pressure is on for this year's race to prove just as fruitful. 

Event Manager Kurt Saksewski said with the additional Entertain Newcastle events planned this year, it's sure to be a bonanza. 

"It's fantastic the City of Newcastle is adding to the festival feel and the event itself," he said, "they're going to start at Gregson Park, Hamilton on the Thursday night with a drivers autograph session...and then on Friday night Darby Street is going to be activated with live activities down there." 

This year's Newcastle 500 is happening on November 23-25. 

Image: Supplied CoN. 

Tingira Heights Woman Charged With Drug Supply

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A woman will face Newcastle Local Court today after methamphetamine was found in her car at Belmont.

Around 6 o'clock last night, Lake Macquarie Police stopped a Peugeot 206 on the Pacific Highway for the purpose of a random breath test.

The 51-year-old woman behind the wheel blew a negative reading but it was discovered she held a suspended license.

Officers searched the car and found a sum of cash and stash of methamphetamine.

She's been charged with supplying an illegal drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.