<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ratepayers in North Sydney have been spared a near 90 per cent rate hike, with the application from the council quashed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) made the call to block North Sydney Council's move to raise rates by 87 per cent over two years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There was a lack of clarity about the reason for such a large increase with people believing it was related only to the North Sydney pool redevelopment, when in fact it was going to substantially increase their surpluses," IPART chair Carmel Donnely said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/government-pushes-for-wage-increase-for-millions-of-workers/3eb5a514-55ca-4820-9781-4515a14ad500"><strong><span>Push for three million workers to get a pay rise</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But across the Spit, it's a different story, with IPART ruling that residents on the Northern Beaches will pay more – although less than what the council asked for.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Instead of a 40 per cent rate increase over three years, ratepayers can expect a 25 per cent hike by 2027, which will deliver the council a further $50 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our financials were starting to slide backward," Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/residents-spared-90-per-cent-rate-hike-in-north-sydney/5019908b-8481-46ed-80df-5c55ed4bc3f5" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/american-basketball-player-arrested-in-indonesia-for-alleged-drug-smuggling-could-face-death-penalty/69329b24-966b-4ef5-8bf2-c9c8831d7c2a"><strong><span>US basketballer could face death penalty after arrest in Indonesia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Northern Beaches Councillor Vincent De Luca criticised the rate increase.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Council has failed to tighten its own belt. Instead, it's even increasing its staff," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>IPART also approved rate rises in four other councils, including a 69.94 per cent in Federation Council, and 37.67 per cent in Gunnedah Shire.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shoalhaven Council will increase rates by 12 per cent, and the Upper Hunter Shire by 33 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>