Funding better local infrastructure: have your say on rate increase options

Project overview

Ku-ring-gai Council is facing significant financial challenges to renew and upgrade essential local infrastructure in line with community expectations.

Over the past decade, the cost of providing Council services has increased by 40%, but the amount of money collected through rates has only grown by 28%. To date, Ku-ring-gai Council has addressed the challenge by implementing cost savings and efficiencies within the organisation. However, further scope for cost savings is limited.

In addition, Ku-ring-gai’s total rates revenue per capita is below the Sydney average, despite Council having a large infrastructure portfolio to maintain.

These issues are reducing Council’s capacity to maintain, renew and upgrade $1.8 billion worth of local infrastructure, including buildings, stormwater and drainage, parks and recreational facilities, footpaths, roads and more.

This infrastructure has been deteriorating for generations due to inadequate funding.

As a result, Council is seeking your feedback on four rate increase options.

Three of these options would involve a permanent increase in rates above the NSW Government’s rate revenue peg to fund a range of infrastructure improvements.

In the absence of a rates increase, Council would be forced to pursue other means of cost cutting or revenue raising in order to address the decline in infrastructure. This may include reducing services such as libraries or parks maintenance, increasing user fees and possibly selling assets to redirect funds towards critical infrastructure maintenance and renewal. However, these alternate measures would not be adequate to address the infrastructure funding gap.

Here you will find out why Council is considering a rate increase, details of each option and how you can have your say.

Consultation closes 31 August at midnight

Infrastructure issues

Council has a range of infrastructure issues which could be addressed by a rate increase.

Community buildings

Community buildings

53% of Council buildings – such as halls, toilet blocks and pavilions - need to either be refurbished or rebuilt to meet modern standards (including step-free access and improved energy-efficiency).

Stormwater and drainage

Stormwater and drainage

43% of stormwater drainage is in a poor or very poor condition due to blockages, joint failure and age, increasing the risk of flooding. Some of Council’s stormwater drainage is now more than 100 years old.

Footpaths

Footpaths

248km of local streets don’t have a footpath on either side and 614km don’t have a footpath on both sides. In the next ten years about 20% of existing footpaths will become unsatisfactory in condition, raising the risk of trip hazards.

Recreational facilities

Recreational facilities

Recreational facilities include sportsfields and courts, parks and playgrounds and swimming pools. Council currently has insufficient funds to stop the deterioration of these facilities, and more will move from a satisfactory to unsatisfactory condition in the next decade.

Traffic and transport

Traffic and transport

Council does not have sufficient funding to implement approved traffic and pedestrian upgrades.

Major projects

Major projects

Loans are required to support two major projects – the St Ives Indoor Sports Centre (under construction) and Marian Street Theatre in Killara (proposed). A funding source is needed for these loans. Find out more in the frequently asked questions section on this page.

Rate increase options being considered

Comparing the options

The table below compares all four rate increase options. Click in the table to view a larger version or download here.

Average rate increases over four years

See this table which lists the average rate increases by residential and business ratepayer categories for each Special Rate Variation option over four years (not including Option 1 base case).

Survey

Fill out the survey below to have your say.

Write a submission

Written submission can be sent as follows (quote reference number S14747-2):

  • Email: srv@krg.nsw.gov.au
  • Mail: to Ku-ring-gai Council, Locked Bag 1006, Gordon NSW 2072

Next steps

This consultation seeks your feedback on four rate increase options to apply from July 2026 to all Ku-ring-gai ratepayers. You can give feedback between 21 July and 31 August 2025.

It is expected that Council will consider feedback from this engagement process at its October 2025 meeting.

If Council was to support a Special Rate Variation, then it would need to seek approval from the NSW Government before February 2026.