Epping Freezes Rates While Cutting Library Hours by 15 Percent

Epping's city council voted 7 to 4 last Tuesday to hold property tax rates flat at 2025 levels, a move that will spare households and businesses from a rate increase but will trigger service reductions across three of the town's four library branches.

The decision emerged from a special budget session where councillors faced a choice between raising rates by 3.2 per cent-the amount administration officials said was needed to maintain current service levels-or holding the line on costs. The rate freeze, which covers both residential and commercial properties, means a household paying $1,840 in annual council charges this year will pay the same amount in 2026-27. A small business paying $3,200 will face no increase.

The trade-off came swiftly. Library branches in Epping's CBD, Thornleigh Park, and the western industrial precinct will reduce weekday opening hours from 10 hours to 8.5 hours per day, effective September 2. The main library on High Street will maintain its current schedule. Council documents show the move is expected to save $287,000 in operating costs over the next financial year.

Who Wins and Who Loses

For ratepayers, the freeze delivers immediate relief. A pensioner household in Epping's south ward will save approximately $59 in council charges over the next 12 months. Commercial landlords managing office or retail space will see no increase to their annual bills, which typically range from $2,500 to $6,800 depending on property size and zoning classification.

Library users and local staff face different circumstances. The CBD branch, which records 890 patron visits per week according to council usage data, will now close at 6 p.m. on weekdays instead of 8 p.m. The Thornleigh Park library, serving what council identifies as its most socioeconomically disadvantaged ward, will lose three and a half hours of weekly access. Part-time library staff working 0.6 full-time equivalent positions at each affected branch will see rostered hours cut by the same proportion, though council administration says no positions will be made redundant. Union representatives for council workers are seeking clarification on whether reduced hours mean reduced pay for individual employees.

The wider context points to fiscal pressure across Epping. Council's own financial forecasts, tabled at Tuesday's meeting, project a $4.1 million operating deficit by 2028-29 if no further measures are taken. Rate growth has historically tracked below inflation; Epping's rates have risen an average of 1.8 per cent annually since 2018, while the Consumer Price Index averaged 2.3 per cent over the same period. Most other councils in the region approved rate rises of 2.5 to 3.5 per cent this year.

What Comes Next

Council says it will review library opening hours again in 2027 as part of a broader service delivery strategy. Administration is also working with the state government on potential grants for digital library services, which could expand remote access to books and resources. No timeline has been set.

The decision now moves to implementation. Library staff will be formally notified of new schedules on July 20. Council will post signage in each affected branch during the third week of August. Residents can contact the council on 9876 1600 to provide feedback until August 31.