IPART has rejected a move by Lockhart Shire Council to dramatically ratchet up its rates.
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The council had planned to increase rates by 37 per cent over the next seven years but IPART yesterday ruled the council could only raise rates a maximum of 1.5 per cent annually.
It found the council did not demonstrate a need for the requested increase and the community was not made sufficiently aware of its full impact.
IPART Chair Dr Peter Boxall said the council had proposed the special variation to partly fund three projects, but with the council estimating it has a $4.2 million net cash balance and zero infrastructure backlog, the regulator found it is likely to be able to fund the projects without a rate increase.
