Rates notices to start hitting mailboxes after Easter

Central Highlands Regional Council’s second half-yearly general rates notices will start hitting mailboxes after Easter, with the five percent discount period extended to 60 days.

The notices, which cover the period from January to June 2021, are payable by close of business 27 May 2021.

The notices are usually issued at the end of February but have been postponed so delayed supplementary notices from previous levies can be issued at the same time.

‘Rather than some people getting one notice and then another a few weeks later, and being confused about what to pay and when, we decided to simplify things for our ratepayers,’ Mayor Kerry Hayes said.

‘Supplementary rates notices are issued by council when there has been a change to your rating record which has been advised since the previous notice. This could be for things like a change to services on the property, land valuation and parcel changes, or property transfers.

‘If you receive a supplementary notice and a general rates notice, you will need to pay the difference between them by the due date. Everyone else, it’s just as per usual.’

Mayor Hayes said about 1000 ratepayers would receive a supplementary notice.

Due to postage delays caused by recent flooding in Queensland as well as the upcoming public holidays, it may take a couple of weeks for you to receive your notice. If you haven’t received your notice by 16 April 2021, please contact council’s customer service team.

General rates are charged independently of the half-yearly water access and consumption charges. The next water access and consumption charges notices will be issued at the end of April 2021.

Mayor Hayes said council resolved to extend the payment period for all remaining notices for the 2020-2021 financial year from 30 days to 60 days to ensure there was ample time between due dates.

‘Usually there is a two-month break between general rates being issued and water notices being issued,’ he said.

‘We understand it’s difficult to have multiple bills due in a short period of time, so to assist the public meet payment deadlines we have extended the due date for both this time around. This means there is longer to pay, and still a month between the two due dates.’

Water notices will be due on 27 June 2021.

There are several payment options for people who might find it difficult to pay their account, including direct debit or periodical payment plans.

Each ratepayer’s situation is unique, so if you have any questions about your account or you would like to arrange a payment plan, please contact our customer service team on 1300 242 686 as soon as you can. For answers to some frequently asked questions about rates, head here.

The Queensland Government’s State Valuation Service have also issued 2021 land valuations in 25 local government areas, including the Central Highlands.

Affected landholders will receive correspondence from the state government, with the changes coming into effect on 30 June 2021. These changes will not affect any rates notices, including this one, until next financial year.