General Rates - Overview

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and the Local Government Regulation 2012, Council levies differential general rates on all rateable land within the Shire. For the 2019/2020 financial year, Council has determined that it will adopt sixteen (16) differential categories listed in the table below.

In making general rates, Council raises an amount of revenue it sees as being appropriate to maintain and improve assets and provide services to the Shire as a whole. In deciding how that revenue is raised, Council takes into account the following factors:

• the use of the land and the economic value of that use;
• the location of the land;
• the level of services provided to that land;
• the access that the land has to services; and
• the rateable value of land, including the potential for the land to produce income.

The annual valuation made by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy of all lands in the Shire shall have force and effect for the period of twelve months commencing on 1 July 2019. Council determines that a method of differential general rating be applied to all rateable land in the Shire on the bases set out hereunder.

Time Within Which Rates Must Be Paid

Rates and charges must be paid by the due date, with the due date being thiry-one (31) days after the rate notices have been issued.

Interest on Overdue Rates and Charges

Rates and charges will become overdue if not paid by the due date. It is Council’s policy to ensure that the interests of ratepayers are protected by discouraging the avoidance of responsibility for payment of rates and charges when due. To this end, Council will impose interest on rates and charges from the day they become overdue. The rate of interest to be charged on overdue rates and charges shall be 9% compound interest charged on daily rests.

In accordance with the Local Government Regulation 2012, the categories into which rateable land is categorised and the description of those categories is set out in the following table. For additional information regarding the identification of rateable land, please download the current Revenue Statement from the Fees and Charges section.

In accordance with the Local Government Regulation 2012, the differential general rate and minimum general rate for each differential rating category is set out in following table. For additional information regarding the identification of rateable land, please download the current Revenue Statement from the Fees and Charges section.

Council has, in accordance with the Local Government Regulation 2012, resolved not to limit the increase in general rates.

The Council levies a separate charge on every parcel of rateable land within the Shire to fund projects that have an environmental benefit to the Burdekin community, including but not limited to the following environmental improvement and natural resource conservation, preservation or enhancement initiatives:

1. Rehabilitation, care or maintenance of the natural environment in areas including aquatic weed management; wetland management; herbicide subsidy; and management of local biosecurity matters such as declared pest animals and weeds.
2. Preservation or remediation of environmentally important areas.
3. Acquisition of land that has particular environmental value.
4. Promotion and encouragement of sustainable practices such as energy efficiency and waste minimisation.

For the 2019/2020 financial year, the amount of the charge is $10.

For additional information regarding the Environment Separate Charge, please download the current Revenue Statement from the Fees and Charges section

Council levies a special charge on land within the area marked on plan number RF2009 to fund the ongoing provision and maintenance of rural fire fighting equipment for the rural fire brigades that operate in the Mount Kelly area. The land benefits from the provision of the Service because this land is not otherwise serviced by urban fire fighting brigades.

For the 2019/2020 financial year, the amount of the charge is $15.

The overall plan for the special charge is as follows:

1. The special charge is levied to fund the cost of providing rural fire fighting services to properties in the Mount Kelly area.
2. The rateable land to which the special charge applies is every parcel of rateable land shown on plan number RF2009 (as annexed hereto).
3. The estimated cost of carrying out the overall plan is $2,310.
4. The time for carrying out the overall plan is 12 months ending 30 June 2020.

For additional information regarding the Mount Kelly Rural Fire Brigade Special Charge, please download the current Revenue Statement from the Fees and Charges section.

Council levies a special charge on land within the area marked on plan number RF0425 to fund the ongoing provision and maintenance of rural fire fighting equipment for the rural fire brigades that operate in the Scott area. The land subject of the special charge specially benefits from the provision of the Service, because this land is not otherwise serviced by urban fire fighting brigades.

For the 2019/2020 financial year, the amount of the charge is $50.

The overall plan for the special charge is as follows:

1. The special charge is levied to fund the cost of providing rural fire fighting services to properties in the Scott area.
2. The rateable land to which the special charge applies is every parcel of rateable land shown on plan number RF0425.
3. The estimated cost of carrying out the overall plan is $4,350.
4. The time for carrying out the overall plan is 12 months ending 30 June 2020.

For additional information regarding the Scott Rural Fire Brigade Special Charge, please download the current Revenue Statement from the Fees and Charges section.