Latest news with #Beachwatch
Sydney Morning Herald
14-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The $500 burden every Sydney ratepayer is carrying
Households are forking out $500 each in their council rates for services once funded by state and federal governments. This practice, known as cost shifting, occurs when councils are forced to foot the bill for state or federal services or infrastructure they aren't funded to deliver. Cost shifting placed a $1.5 billion financial burden on ratepayers last year – roughly $500 per household – in 2023-24, a report by Local Government NSW found. It is a 10 per cent increase on 2021-22, and represents a cumulative $11.3 billion over the past decade. The primary drivers of this cost last year were rate exemptions for certain government buildings, waste services levies, and costs of regulatory functions and emergency service contributions. The Mayor of Forbes Shire Council and president of LGNSW, Phyllis Miller, said cash-strapped councils were 'at breaking point'. 'We can't continue to get these kinds of costs put onto our sector where we have minimal ability to raise our rates,' she said. 'The local government sector is not financially sustainable in the present system that we're working in now. So unless something changes, you're slowly going to see councils go backwards out the door financially.' This means councils are asked to pay for more with proportionately less, diverting income away from planned projects or services. Last year, the state government proposed it stop funding Beachwatch, a water-quality testing service that warns swimmers of where and when it is safe to take a dip after a downpour. For Waverley Council, it meant a $22,190 bill to run the program would need to be footed by ratepayers or be abandoned. The state government has since reversed the decision.
The Age
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
The $500 burden every Sydney ratepayer is carrying
Households are forking out $500 each in their council rates for services once funded by state and federal governments. This practice, known as cost shifting, occurs when councils are forced to foot the bill for state or federal services or infrastructure they aren't funded to deliver. Cost shifting placed a $1.5 billion financial burden on ratepayers last year – roughly $500 per household – in 2023-24, a report by Local Government NSW found. It is a 10 per cent increase on 2021-22, and represents a cumulative $11.3 billion over the past decade. The primary drivers of this cost last year were rate exemptions for certain government buildings, waste services levies, and costs of regulatory functions and emergency service contributions. The Mayor of Forbes Shire Council and president of LGNSW, Phyllis Miller, said cash-strapped councils were 'at breaking point'. 'We can't continue to get these kinds of costs put onto our sector where we have minimal ability to raise our rates,' she said. 'The local government sector is not financially sustainable in the present system that we're working in now. So unless something changes, you're slowly going to see councils go backwards out the door financially.' This means councils are asked to pay for more with proportionately less, diverting income away from planned projects or services. Last year, the state government proposed it stop funding Beachwatch, a water-quality testing service that warns swimmers of where and when it is safe to take a dip after a downpour. For Waverley Council, it meant a $22,190 bill to run the program would need to be footed by ratepayers or be abandoned. The state government has since reversed the decision.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New warning in wake of 'bomb cyclone'
Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at several beaches along the NSW coastline amid pollution fears in the wake of this week's 'bomb cyclone'. NSW Beachwatch has issued a number of warnings during the week to alert swimmers that beaches from Woonoona to Narrabeen had been impacted by stormwater pollution, after the extreme weather system smashed parts of the state's coastline. Beachgoers have been told to avoid swimming if there were any signs of pollution, discoloured water or floating debris, and to check with lifeguards before entering the water. 'Due to extreme wet weather, stormwater pollution may be affecting this site,' the warnings read. 'Always check for signs of pollution such as flowing drains, open lagoons, discoloured water, odours, litter and debris in the water before swimming.' Sites included popular swimming spots at Bulli, Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches including Gymea Bay Baths, Foreshores Beach, Rose Bay and the Narrabeen Lagoon. Authorities advised the beaches were unsuitable for swimming. The City of Wollongong urged residents to take care around its coastal areas and closed The Continental and Port Kembla pools during the rough weather conditions. 'Thanks to the stormwater runoff potentially impacting water quality, we don't recommend a beach or rockpool swim at this time,' a city spokesman said on social media. 'Our ocean rock pools will be inspected as sea conditions improve for debris, sand and other materials that may have been washed in. ' The foreshore precinct around Cronulla was also closed during the week as wild seas battered the coastline causing erosion and dangerous conditions. Earlier this year swimmers were told to avoid dozens of Sydney beaches over pollution concerns following severe thunderstorms.
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Pollution fears at several beaches along the NSW coastline following cyclone bomb
Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at several beaches along the NSW coastline amid pollution fears in the wake of this week's 'bomb cyclone'. NSW Beachwatch has issued a number of warnings during the week to alert swimmers that beaches from Woonoona to Narrabeen had been impacted by stormwater pollution, after the extreme weather system smashed parts of the state's coastline. Beachgoers have been told to avoid swimming if there were any signs of pollution, discoloured water or floating debris, and to check with lifeguards before entering the water. 'Due to extreme wet weather, stormwater pollution may be affecting this site,' the warnings read. 'Always check for signs of pollution such as flowing drains, open lagoons, discoloured water, odours, litter and debris in the water before swimming.' Sites included popular swimming spots at Bulli, Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches including Gymea Bay Baths, Foreshores Beach, Rose Bay and the Narrabeen Lagoon. Authorities advised the beaches were unsuitable for swimming. The City of Wollongong urged residents to take care around its coastal areas and closed The Continental and Port Kembla pools during the rough weather conditions. 'Thanks to the stormwater runoff potentially impacting water quality, we don't recommend a beach or rockpool swim at this time,' a city spokesman said on social media. 'Our ocean rock pools will be inspected as sea conditions improve for debris, sand and other materials that may have been washed in. ' The foreshore precinct around Cronulla was also closed during the week as wild seas battered the coastline causing erosion and dangerous conditions. Earlier this year swimmers were told to avoid dozens of Sydney beaches over pollution concerns following severe thunderstorms.
