Council
5 July, 2026
Over to you Colo Vale as community drop-in sessions kick off
The first in a series of community drop-in sessions being run by Wingecarribee Shire Council to consult with the community on a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) will be held this week.
The first in a series of community drop-in sessions being run by Wingecarribee Shire Council to consult with the community on a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) will be held this week.
The first of six sessions will be held on Wednesday (July 8) between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at the Colo Vale Hall.
Additional sessions will be held in coming weeks at Renwick, Bowral, Moss Vale, Wingello and Robertson while two online webinars are also being planned.
The drop-in sessions will provide residents with a chance to chat with Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick, council’s General Manager Lisa Miscamble and council staff about the two options currently under consideration.
The first of those options – the ‘status quo’ option – is expected to see infrastructure across the shire fall further and further into disrepair.
The second option – being described as the ‘stronger services’ option – involves a “cumulative and permanent increase” in rates of 34.4 per cent to be introduced progressively over the next three years.
Even if it votes to go ahead with the proposed SRV, council will still need the approval of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) – which will conduct its own community consultation before making a final determination next year.
As reported by The Southern Wire, council has already started painting a grim picture of what the future holds if it can’t obtain additional revenue to help address a forecast $100 million funding shortfall over the next decade.
Almost one third of that (approximately $31 million) is needed for “urgent, critical works on roads and buildings”.
Council has set aside two months for consultation on the two options and will make a decision at its October meeting on whether or not to apply to IPART for the SRV.
Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick has moved to assure Wingecarribee residents that they will be listened to.
“I highly encourage residents to get involved and share their views in a way that suits them best,” Cr Fitzpatrick said.
“This is a conversation about the future of our community and it's important we hear from as many people as possible.”
Residents can also provide feedback on the two options under consideration via council’s community engagement platform, http://participatewingecarribee.wsc.nsw.gov.au
Interestingly, council continues to contend on the platform that it is not in financial trouble.
The site says council is financially stable but its General Fund – which finances core services, infrastructure and community outcomes not linked to water and sewer – is “deteriorating”.
Councillor Rachel Russell is urging people to vote for the ‘status quo’ option.
She said Council had only agreed to the establishment of a finance committee at its June meeting and the committee should be given time to see what it can achieve “before management can ask to take any more of your money”.
“Now we finally have a finance committee I believe we should explore all cost saving options on behalf of ratepayers before asking to pay more,” Cr Russell said.
She is also concerned that the pro-SRV case is based on outdated data (from 2021) to assess the community’s capacity to pay.
Some social workers have already expressed concern that the rates increase – on top of increases to water and sewer charges that came into effect on July 1 without the need for IPART approval – will push many struggling Wingecarribee families over the edge.
The consultation process will end on August 28.
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