Rates & Charges
- General Rate
- Waste Collection Charges
- Waste Management Facilities
- State Emergency Service Levy
- Environmental Levy
- Rural Fire Brigade Levy
- State Fire Service Levy
- Disaster, Restoration & Resilience Levy
General Rates
The General Rate is a land tax that we must bill on all rateable land, including vacant land. It’s calculated using the Unimproved Value of your property as issued by the State Department of Natural Resources & Mines (DNR&M).
All properties in our Region were given new valuations to take effect from 1 July 2012. For information about your property’s valuation see DNR&M’s website.
We use a Differential Rate System to levy General Rates. All properties are grouped into identified categories. This means that your property is billed the same rate per dollar of your property’s valuation as similar properties. A full list of our Differential Rating Categories, charging rates in the dollar, and minimum general rates can be found in our Budget Resolutions.
Budget Resolutions: Adoption of 2012 -2013 Rates and Charges
Limitation of Increase in the Differential General Rate
For the financial year 2012-2013, the Council will limit any increase in differential general rates in specified rating categories to the differential general rates levied in the financial year 2011-2012 increased by the percentage shown for the above tables. (Capped Percentages).
Provided that the limitation of increase in the differential general rate does not apply in the following instances:
- Where the area of land changes.
- There is a change in the Differential Rating Category.
- The general rate was calculated on a valuation issued pursuant to Section 50 of the Land Valuation Act 2010.
- Where the assessment is levied the Minimum General Rate in the current year.
- Where there has been a change in valuation (other than the revaluation of the entire Local Government area) during the current or previous financial year.
For land on which the rate levied for the previous financial year was for a period less than the full year, the differential general rate for the previous year will be annualised and the limitation applied to the annualised amount in accordance with Section 116 (2) (b) (ii) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
Waste Collection Charge
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 94 (b) (ii))
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2013, waste collection charges be made and levied as follows:
$125.00 per annum per 240 litre waste collection service for all Residential properties serviced by Council’s waste collection contractor in accordance with their contract with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council. $160.00 per annum per 240 litre waste collection service for all Commercial properties serviced by Council’s waste collection contractor in accordance with their contract with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
Charges shall apply to all lands and/or premises within the Council Area where waste services are made available on a per bin per service basis. Services shall be provided on a weekly basis with a twice weekly service available upon application. A twice weekly service will incur an additional charge per bin per service.
Service cancellations are permitted in the following circumstances:-
• Following demolition of premises – pro-rata adjustments allowed, and
• Premises that will be vacant for a full year upon application
Cancellation must be made in the form required by Council.
A Pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new parcels created during the financial year and new services from date of commencement.
Waste Management Facilities
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 92 (5))
For the 12 months ending 30 June 2013, a Separate Charge - Waste Management Facilities of $110.00 per annum per assessment be made and levied on all land in the Region with the exception of:
- Properties in Differential Rating Category 6
- Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies
- Non-rateable land to which a waste collection service is not provided
The proceeds from the separate charge shall be applied to fund recurrent and capital expenditure and administration costs associated with the ongoing operation, maintenance and upgrading of Council’s waste management facilities comprising landfill sites, transfer stations, weighbridge and rubbish bins located throughout the Region.
A Pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new parcels created during the financial year.
Separate and Special Charges
In accordance with section 94 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 Council will levy special rates and charges on certain properties that are considered to be specially benefited by the provision of a specific service, facility or activity. Special charges are a flat charge levied per assessment, other than specifically identified exclusions, as this is considered to provide a more equitable basis for the sharing of the cost.
In accordance with section 103 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 Council will levy a separate rate or charge on all rateable land (other than specifically identified exclusions) in the region to fund a particular service, facility or activity.
Separate Charges
State Emergency Service Levy
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 92 (5))
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2013, a separate charge of $15.00 per assessment be made and levied on all rateable land within the Region with the exception of:
- Properties in Differential Rating Category 6
- Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies
The proceeds from the separate charge shall be applied to fund recurrent and capital expenditure for the Volunteer State Emergency Services Units operating within the Lockyer Valley Regional Council area together with the provision of disaster planning and management support for the units.
A Pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new parcels created during the financial year.
Environmental Levy
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 92 (5))
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2013, a separate charge of $40.00 per assessment be made and levied on all rateable land within the Region with the exception of:
- Properties in Differential Rating Category 6
- Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies
The proceeds from the separate charge shall be applied to fund expenditure on the development of an environmental policy framework and the implementation of physical/biological, cultural, social and economic environmental initiatives throughout the Region including:
- Environmental works to conserve, remediate and manage significant areas;
- Voluntary conservation initiatives and land care assistance in property management;
- Fire, weed and waste management;
- Identification and acquisition of land with critical ecological values;
- Implementation of ongoing information, technical support and educational resources to stakeholders;
- Other specific environmentally beneficial activities.
Council considers that the benefit to any particular rateable land from the range of strategic environmental management initiatives listed above cannot be distinguished from the benefit to any other particular rateable land. Accordingly the separate charge is to be levied equally on all rateable land in the region, unless specifically excluded above.
A Pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new parcels created during the financial year.
Disaster, Restoration & Resilience Levy
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 92 (5))
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2013, a separate charge of $100.00 per assessment be made and levied on all rateable land within the Region with the exception of:
- Properties in Differential Rating Category 6
- Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies
To fund infrastructure restoration projects (such as bridges, roads) funding shortfalls, interest & redemption payments on loans associated with works and community resilience. The proceeds from the separate charge will also be applied to fund expenditure on the disaster management initiatives associated with improving the regions preparedness for and response to future natural disasters including the implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.
A Pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new parcels created during the financial year.
Special Charge
Rural Fire Brigade Levy
(Local Government Act 2009 - Section 92 (3))
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2013, a special charge of $30.00 per annum per assessment be made and levied on all rateable properties which are not required to pay the Queensland State Government Fire Services Levy and which are in the area serviced by a Rural Fire Brigade with the exception of:
(a) Properties in Differential Rating Category 6
(b) Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies
All such lands are deemed to benefit from this charge as a result of the Rural Fire Brigade Group operating in the area.
The proceeds from the Special Charge collected shall be remitted to the Lockyer Local Area Finance Committee which acts for the rural fire brigade groups within the Lockyer Valley Regional Council area.
This Special Charge is levied to assist with:
- maintaining fire trails within the Lockyer Valley Council Region.
- the operations, maintenance and provision of buildings, land and/or equipment for those Rural Fire Brigade groups.
For each property attracting this Special Charge, Council retains an administration charge of $1.25 per assessment to cover administration of the plan.
The time for implementing the overall plan is one year ending 30 June 2013, however the activities of the Rural Fire Brigades are ongoing and further special charges may be made in future years.
State Fire Services Levy
The Queensland State Fire Services Levy is not a Council charge. Council’s throughout Queensland collect the Fire Levy on behalf of the Queensland State Government. The charge in determined by the Queensland State Government.
State Department of Community Safety