FAQs

The DPOP is Council’s response to the Community Strategic Plan – Shoalhaven 2032. It maps out Council’s four-year Objectives and one-year Actions, as prioritised by the community. The Actions are budgeted and resourced activities that Council will undertake over the next financial year (2024/25).

Once the consultation period for the DPOP and Budget has finished, a report on the consultation findings will be provided to Council along with proposed changes to the draft plans. When Council has adopted the report, the documents will be finalised and ready for the start of the new financial year (1 July 2024).

Council is obligated by the Local Government Act 1993 to levy and collect rates from all property owners in the Shoalhaven (except from properties exempt from rates). The funds received from ratepayers are used to finance services, facilities and infrastructure across our city. While we also collect income from other sources such as ‘user pays’ arrangements and our commercial businesses, rates are Council’s largest and most important source of revenue.

The Valuer General issues new land values to councils to use in levying rates at least every three years. Rates in 2024/25 will be levied using the current cycle, 2022 base date land values. These land values were used for rating in 2023/24 and will be used again in 2024/25 and 2025/26.

It is important to note that changes in the underlying land values following a revaluation (once every 3-years) does not change Council’s total rates income but does lead to a redistribution of rates levied on individual properties depending on the respective changes in land value (increase or decrease) between properties.

These land values provide the basis for how rates are determined, while the permissible increase Council is allowed to increase its total rate income each year is set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). In 2024/25 Council proposes to increase rates by the IPART approved rate peg of 4.5% for Shoalhaven.

More information about how rates are calculated can be found on the Rates Information & FAQs web page

You can provide your feedback via one of the following methods:

• Completing the online survey on the Get Involved page
• Emailing: council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au and type 'DPOP Feedback' in the subject line. 
• Mail to: Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 42, Nowra, NSW 2541
• If you would like assistance providing feedback over the phone, please call Council on 1300 293 111 

Feedback must be received by 5pm 10 June 2024.

Council proposes to increase total rates by the IPART approved rate peg of 4.5%, which would be an additional $64.03 for the average residential rates of $1,459.60 (2023-24) to $1,523.43 (2024-25). 

A standard 120L Domestic Waste Management Charge service is proposed to increase 7.9% from $468 to $505, which is an additional $37 per year in 2024/25. Further outline of Domestic Waste Management charges can be found in Fees & Charges Part 1.

Due to the growing gap between income and revenue, documented in the draft budget 2024-25 report it is unlikely there will be enough cash to commit to capital projects in 2025-26, and onwards, unless a Special Rate Variation (SRV) is adopted. Council has only presented a 1-year capital program in the draft 2024-25 Delivery Program and Operational Plan as there is no certainty around the future of the capital works program at this time. 

Shoalhaven Water has maintained its low prices for several years while the costs of electricity, materials and wages have increased considerably. The operational costs of providing this service have been reviewed and updated to cover costs and ensure the service is sustainable and able to continue for the long term. While it is a dramatic increase, the proposed charges would still be some of the lowest water rates in NSW.   

Income from Shoalhaven Water fees and charges are invested in the service itself, which includes the maintenance of all the infrastructure needed, such as pipes, pumping stations, dams as well as the workforce required to manage and provide water and sewer for the community. 

While providing water to the community is a function of Council, Shoalhaven Water operates independently as its own business unit, with funding separate to Council’s General Fund. Money from property rates goes into the General Fund, while fees and charges for your water bills go directly into the Shoalhaven Water fund and the Sewer Fund to pay for operating costs and capital.