What is the Council Reference Group? 

The Council Reference Group was established in 2024 to advise on the implementation of the rate peg methodology (which was updated in 2023 for effect from the 2024-25 financial year). 

The CRG provides a forum to identify and address current and emergent issues. This includes establishing a process for specific adjustment factors to be included in the rate peg for specific costs faced by councils or groups of councils where ratepayers benefit from activities generating the costs and where we have the necessary information to ascertain the quantum of these costs. 

The CRG is a consultative body – it plays an important role in informing the Tribunal about issues related to the rate peg methodology, but it is not a decision-making body. The Tribunal makes decisions about the rate peg, as the Minister for Local Government’s delegate. The IPART Secretariat will facilitate the CRG and report to the Tribunal on matters discussed by the CRG.

Members of the Council Reference Group 

The CRG comprises representatives from IPART’s Secretariat, the Office of Local Government (OLG), Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and at least 10 other members including local government representatives (such as council staff) and local government sector experts. These representatives are based on nominations from the OLG and LGNSW.

How can the community engage with IPART? 

Both Council Reference Group and ratepayer workshops are important ways that we collect feedback and seek information on our rate peg methodology to inform the Tribunal. 

Our Council Reference Group and Ratepayer workshop review page for 2025 is available here. It provides more information on the 2025 CRG meetings and communiques and upcoming details for our ratepayer workshop. 

You can also continue to engage with us directly to raise issues or concerns related to the rate peg methodology.

For further information on the CRG and ratepayer workshops, you can refer to: 

To hear more about the Council Reference Group and/or how you can participate in a ratepayer workshop, please register your interest.