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 to take 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.

We have updated the Terms of Reference for the CRG

The original CRG Terms of Reference (ToR) was drafted in 2024, on the basis that the CRG would operate for at least 2 years and be reviewed following that period. 

IPART considers that the input from the CRG has been valuable and plans to continue the CRG on an ongoing basis. 

We recently consulted on the ToR and we received 4 submissions: We thank you for your feedback. The submissions can be found here.

Revised Terms of Reference - IPART Council Reference Group - April 2026

You can find more details at CRG meetings and ratepayer workshop for 2026.

Members of the Council Reference Group 

The CRG currently comprises representatives from IPART’s Secretariat, the Office of Local Government (OLG), Local Government NSW (LGNSW), the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) 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.

The current members are:

  • David Reynolds, CEO, LGNSW
  • Shaun McBride, Chief Economist, LGNSW
  • Tina Baldock, Director, Sector Policy, OLG
  • Sonya Kenny, Principal Policy Officer, OLG
  • Ritika Babbar, Senior Performance Analyst, OLG
  • Andrew Butcher, President, NSW Revenue Professionals; Senior Revenue Accountant, Campbelltown City Council
  • Wayne Rogers, Director Corporate Services, Blacktown City Council
  • George Cowan, Individual, former General Manager, Narrandera Shire Council
  • Seon Millsteed, Revenue Accountant, Tamworth Regional Council
  • Vicki Mayo, CEO, LG Professionals
  • Daniel Pretzler, Chair of the Finance Professionals Member Network, LG Professionals; Wollongong City Council
  • Richard Sheridan, Director City Performance, Bayside Council
  • Ian Clayton, Manager Property and Revenue, Mid-Western Regional Council
  • Glen Magus, Director Corporate Support, Hornsby Council
  • Michael Chorlton, Policy Advisor, Tweed Shire Council
  • Julie Briggs, Policy Advisor, Country Mayors Association of NSW

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.

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

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

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