Tweed Shire Council says it has adopted one of the lowest rate increases in the cross-border region for 2026/27, with the average household bill rising around 3.6 per cent once all charges are counted. This is below the current annual rate of inflation of 4.2 per cent.
Councillors recently voted to adopt a 3.1 per cent increase in general rates (the part of the bill that funds everyday services). As there have also been slight increases in water, wewerage and waste charges, the actual change will vary from one property to the next.
Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry says Tweed Shire Council have worked hard to strike a balance between affordability and maintaining services at a time when households continue to face cost-of-living pressures.
‘We know any increase is felt by our community, which is why we’ve kept this year’s rate increase as low as possible while still maintaining the essential services people rely on every day,’ she said.
In the area
Several neighbouring councils have adopted higher general rate increases and a small number of NSW councils have been approved to go well beyond the standard range, some with double-digit increases.
‘Compared to many councils across NSW, particularly those with much higher approved increases, Tweed’s rate increase remains modest and responsible,’ Cr Cherry said.
The contrast is sharpest across the border. Queensland councils are not capped the way NSW councils are, and recent budgets there show increases of between 5 and 10 per cent.
‘When you compare Tweed to the City of Gold Coast and other South East Queensland councils, our increase is roughly half, and in some cases significantly less, than what residents are seeing just across the border,’ Cr Cherry said.
Tweed Council says revenue from rates will continue to fund maintenance of roads, parks and public spaces, infrastructure to support population growth, and essential facilities used by residents and visitors.
‘This is about delivering the services our community expects, while being responsible with ratepayer funds,’ Cr Cherry said.
Tweed Shire Council encourages anyone experiencing difficulty paying their rates to contact Council to discuss available support options.
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