nickic said..
So anyone else overjoyed with the latest plan by Hunters Hill Council to raise revenue? $480 to keep a tender on a chain on the rocks. Its more than the mooring.
What does anyone else pay around Sydney Harbour as I would be interested to see if it's worth challenging. I gave oaid ut for now so they don't take the tender.

Hi Nickic
The bit that infuriated me most is that local residents only pay about $170! Non locals have to cough up $480. I removed my tender from the crumbling concrete and rock foreshore as it will fit in the back of my car... just less convenient. I was not going to pay the council a dime given the already poor state of the facilities.

just a matter of time til they bring in this robbery at woodford bay. ill be gone - hopefully.

I thought if its in the water you don't pay

I just had a look at their web site and 2013/2014 it was $400 for a non resident (I assume this means you don't pay rates to the Council) and now in the 2017/2018 year it is $480 so their has not been a huge increase over the last 4 years

Residents ( i assume this is a rate payer) has gone from $140 to $170 over the same period

On the permit form to apply for a spot it says Resident/Ratepayer or Non Resident so this seems to support this

I guess they get it cheaper because they already pay rates to the Council

I don't suppose you know anyone who lives in the Council Boundaries who would get it in their name and let you use it

Regards Don

dreamliner said..

nickic said..
So anyone else overjoyed with the latest plan by Hunters Hill Council to raise revenue? $480 to keep a tender on a chain on the rocks. Its more than the mooring.
What does anyone else pay around Sydney Harbour as I would be interested to see if it's worth challenging. I gave oaid ut for now so they don't take the tender.

Another good reason to get out of Sydney.
Life goes on and when you do you realise what a mug you've been living down there.

thats how i feel. lived there over 20 years and now the longer im away from the place - the harder it is to even go back for a day or so. Life is that much easier out of the big smoke. Hardest part is not being near the boat, but the boat leaves Sydney too next week. Hallelujah.

Yeh, it's getting me pretty annoyed.

You can try challenging it, but I'll tell you what their response is right now;

"Well, over in Mosman they pay $800, so we think it's ok".
"Well, we haven't charged anything and we started talking about this 12 years ago"

Doesn't matter if you point out that Mosman is a totally different foreshore (ie, more built up with less space), or that HHC have provided no facilities. Doesn't matter if, when asked for a plan for improvements, they can't supply one. Doesn't matter if point out that Canada Bay Council (literally across the river in my case) charge $0 or that even Leichhardt council only charges $86/$128. Doesn't matter that you can point out that oddly, most people are unaware of what the council approved and did nothing about 12 years ago. Doesn't matter if you point out that a mooring for an 8 metre boat is cheaper.

So, options;

1. Do the "proper" thing and pay $480. Yeh right- with a young family and new house, I'm lucky to be allowed to spend any money on the boat.

2. Hit up a local resident and have them let me put their address on the form and only pay $170. You actually don't need to be a ratepayer, just have a local address. This might actually be an option for me (inlaws), but it's still extra money on a yearly basis.

3. Find a spot on the Canada Bay Council side of the river and row across, watching out for ferries and boats passing down Parramatta River. OK, I could, but not when I have to bring across crew and gear. Heaven help me if I'm tired or get older.

4. Beg the owner of one of the nice waterfront properties to let me lock the dinghy to their dock instead. I mean, the worst they can say is no, but I'm guessing that's exactly what they'll say.

5. Get a whole new mooring in another council area. Oddly, this is probably the most expensive option, but possibly the one I'll end up taking. The mooring will cost the same, but after a year or two, the one off costs of moving mine (which needs a service anyway) will be wiped out in savings for not having to pay another annual fee. Also, I'll end up closer to my club.

Yara said..

SVHawkeye said..
I Pay $250 per year at lake Macquarie (non rate payer) and my mooring fees are only $465 per annum plus annual inspection. My tender is 15 minutes walk from my $420,000 house. Why live in Sydney. In Sydney I was paying $4000 per annum but no tender cost and it took me 35 minutes on a good day to get to it from my $750,000 home. whats more is I had to wait for a stupid bridge (spit) to open at the most ridiculous times that never suited sailing winds. At least Swansea bridge opens every hour upon a 1 hour request during daylight hours and 6 hours request during night time hours. The bar can be tricky but manageable.

Think you need to check that house value. You might find it is worth a lot more today!

Yeah wouldn't surprise me . I bought a unit in Pennant hills when I was 21 for $76,000. Hate to see what it is worth now.

Planeray said..
Yeh, it's getting me pretty annoyed.

You can try challenging it, but I'll tell you what their response is right now;

"Well, over in Mosman they pay $800, so we think it's ok".
"Well, we haven't charged anything and we started talking about this 12 years ago"

Doesn't matter if you point out that Mosman is a totally different foreshore (ie, more built up with less space), or that HHC have provided no facilities. Doesn't matter if, when asked for a plan for improvements, they can't supply one. Doesn't matter if point out that Canada Bay Council (literally across the river in my case) charge $0 or that even Leichhardt council only charges $86/$128. Doesn't matter that you can point out that oddly, most people are unaware of what the council approved and did nothing about 12 years ago. Doesn't matter if you point out that a mooring for an 8 metre boat is cheaper.

So, options;

1. Do the "proper" thing and pay $480. Yeh right- with a young family and new house, I'm lucky to be allowed to spend any money on the boat.

2. Hit up a local resident and have them let me put their address on the form and only pay $170. You actually don't need to be a ratepayer, just have a local address. This might actually be an option for me (inlaws), but it's still extra money on a yearly basis.

3. Find a spot on the Canada Bay Council side of the river and row across, watching out for ferries and boats passing down Parramatta River. OK, I could, but not when I have to bring across crew and gear. Heaven help me if I'm tired or get older.

4. Beg the owner of one of the nice waterfront properties to let me lock the dinghy to their dock instead. I mean, the worst they can say is no, but I'm guessing that's exactly what they'll say.

5. Get a whole new mooring in another council area. Oddly, this is probably the most expensive option, but possibly the one I'll end up taking. The mooring will cost the same, but after a year or two, the one off costs of moving mine (which needs a service anyway) will be wiped out in savings for not having to pay another annual fee. Also, I'll end up closer to my club.

Thanks all. Ray, new notice up this morning extending for another month. Might do some research then follow it up. Worth a try to the ombudsmen?

Planeray said..
Yeh, it's getting me pretty annoyed.

You can try challenging it, but I'll tell you what their response is right now;

"Well, over in Mosman they pay $800, so we think it's ok".
"Well, we haven't charged anything and we started talking about this 12 years ago"

Doesn't matter if you point out that Mosman is a totally different foreshore (ie, more built up with less space), or that HHC have provided no facilities. Doesn't matter if, when asked for a plan for improvements, they can't supply one. Doesn't matter if point out that Canada Bay Council (literally across the river in my case) charge $0 or that even Leichhardt council only charges $86/$128. Doesn't matter that you can point out that oddly, most people are unaware of what the council approved and did nothing about 12 years ago. Doesn't matter if you point out that a mooring for an 8 metre boat is cheaper.

So, options;

1. Do the "proper" thing and pay $480. Yeh right- with a young family and new house, I'm lucky to be allowed to spend any money on the boat.

2. Hit up a local resident and have them let me put their address on the form and only pay $170. You actually don't need to be a ratepayer, just have a local address. This might actually be an option for me (inlaws), but it's still extra money on a yearly basis.

3. Find a spot on the Canada Bay Council side of the river and row across, watching out for ferries and boats passing down Parramatta River. OK, I could, but not when I have to bring across crew and gear. Heaven help me if I'm tired or get older.

4. Beg the owner of one of the nice waterfront properties to let me lock the dinghy to their dock instead. I mean, the worst they can say is no, but I'm guessing that's exactly what they'll say.

5. Get a whole new mooring in another council area. Oddly, this is probably the most expensive option, but possibly the one I'll end up taking. The mooring will cost the same, but after a year or two, the one off costs of moving mine (which needs a service anyway) will be wiped out in savings for not having to pay another annual fee. Also, I'll end up closer to my club.

Guys there is another option, just buy a cheap dinghy$150 just to get you out there then pick up credit or bulk gear from local wharf or marina.

Or alternatively just chain your dinghy illegally and because its government, they have to put a notice of intended removal sticker on it for 1 - 3 months before they take it.

Take it home for a couple of weeks and then put it back.

From observation and friends around the harbour, most councils only audit every 12 - 24 months or so.

I have very effectively managed this program for my mooring in Pearl Bay, The Spit and also over at Manly.

this also seems do-able at North Sydney Council. Willoughby council has so few waterfront spots, they barely care at all.

I paid $260 pa in Pittwater. I now have the dinghy at Drummoyne Sailing Club, $120 pa.
I looked at leaving Sydney a few years ago and one of the places I really like is Lake Macquarie. Missus and I spent a long weekend in Newcastle and looked at places around Carey Bay, south of Toronto. Every one of the places we looked at was owned by Sydney people who had moved up there 3-5 years previously. All were selling up to move back to Sydney. That told us something.
Sydney is expensive but it is a premier world city. All the major events occur here, go to the footy/cricket when you want to, into the city to see a show, walk to the fish markets for a feed, heaps of eateries within walking distance, get to the airport in 30 minutes.
In my case, my family, kids and grandkids are here.
If you want all a great city has to offer, and clearly more do than don't, you do have to pay for it. If like me resources aren't endless, you do learn the ways to cut costs.