Rates

 

Listing of Water Readings

Somerset Regional Council is publishing a list of June 2009 water meter readings recorded in a move that will help residents keep track of their water usage and promote the early detection of household water leaks. Residents are encouraged to vew this document. Click here to download and view the document.


Rating in the Somerset Region 

Annual rates and charges for residential properties in the Somerset compare favourably with similarly serviced properties in other local government areas, particularly in south east Queensland. The Department of Local Government site www.lgp.qld.gov.au  contains a useful list of comparative statistics between all Queensland Councils on rates, debt levels and other matters. Somerset can be found in the “Rural Agricultural Very Large” group of Councils.

These State Government residential rate statistics do not include State Fire levies and are generally averages.

Somerset is a great place to live.

Before purchasing a property in Somerset (or elsewhere), it is strongly recommended that you obtain a Council property search to see full details of exactly what it is that you are buying.

You should ask your solicitor or conveyancer for a copy of this and other search results. You may wish to make your contract subject to search results that are "satisfactory to you" or similar wording. Please seek legal advice on these matters.

Please do not make the mistake of buying any property that you cannot afford to maintain, including payment of rates and charges.

Download Application Form for Council Searches

When are Rates Payable?

Council levies rates and charges half yearly generally in the months of February and August.

Council offers a 15% discount off most rates and charges and has a 6 week period in which to pay rates. It is very important that ratepayers do not risk their discounts by leaving payment until it is too late. If you are posting your rates payment, please ensure sufficient time to allow for any potential postal delays.

General Rates

General rates help cover the cost of providing and maintaining roads, streets, footpaths and trails, bridges, drainage, parks, playing fields, skate parks, cemeteries, libraries, swimming pools, halls, playgrounds, public dumping facilities, street lighting, public toilets, noxious weed and pest control, health and building control, economic development and Shire planning services, tourism promotion services, community group financial assistance, State emergency services, Queensland Government and Centrelink agencies, television relay services and many other services and facilities.

Council’s general rates are calculated in the same way as other Councils throughout Queensland under the Local Government Act 1993. The formula is:

Unimproved capital valuation (issued by the State Government)

Times

Rate in the dollar (set by Council (see below))

Subject to a minimum charge (set by Council and varying depending upon what the land is used for and its services)

Councils throughout Queensland are required by the Local Government Act 1993 to use the valuation amounts (which are an unimproved value) as a basis for calculating general rates.

Should you wish to object to your valuation, or have any query regarding the land valuation, its calculation or land use, please contact:

Department of Environment and Resource Management
PO Box 864
Ipswich QLD 4305

or by telephone to the district valuer on (07) 3884 5300.  

State Pensioner Rate Subsidy

For owner/ resident pensioners, the State Government offers a 20% subsidy on gross rates up to a maximum of $180 per year.

Somerset is proving to be a popular retirement choice and destination for pensioners, who are taking advantage of the rate subsidy offer in large numbers.

Council administers the subsidy scheme within the Somerset under rules and regulations set down by the Queensland Government. New applicants to the scheme must have a current Pensioner Concession Card and can contact Council for further information and assistance.

  • Are you a pensioner?
  • Are you the holder of a Pensioner Concession Card?
  • Is the property recorded in your name as owner?
  • Is it your principal place of residence?

If you can answer 'yes' to ALL of the above, you may be entitled to a State Government Pensioner Rate Subsidy. To receive the subsidy you need to make application to Council by completing a 'Pensioner Rebate' application form and have your Pensioner Concession Card sighted at either Esk, Kilcoy or Lowood offices.

If you are currently receiving the rebate on your rates, there is no need for you to complete a new application form, as confirmation of your eligibility will be confirmed with the Centrelink or the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

Water charges

Council's water charging system is made up of access and consumption components.

Access or Base Charges

All properties where Council water is available are subject to an annual access charge.  Vacant properties not yet connected to water are also subject to the annual access charge. The access charges relate to the costs of Council having over $21 million of water infrastructure.

Consumption Charges

Water consumption charges apply for every kilolitre of water used and relate to the purchase cost of Lake Wivenhoe or other raw water, pumping costs, treatment costs, testing costs and other costs.

1 kilolitre of water is the same as 1,000 litres or 1 tonne, because that is how much a kilolitre of water weighs. 

You could fill more than 4 wheelie bins with 1 tonne of water.

Cleansing charges (garbage charges)

Cleansing charges cover the costs of Council providing the use of a wheelie bin, collecting your rubbish from your front gate and taking it away to a licensed waste facility.

Council is required to operate its landfill in accordance with strict State Government environmental regulations that safeguard public health and protect the environment. These regulations make landfills expensive to operate and construct.

Cleansing charges generally apply to all habitable properties that are on a garbage truck service route.

Sewerage charges

All properties where Council sewerage is available are subject to an annual sewerage charge. Vacant properties not yet connected to sewerage are also subject to an annual charge.

Fire levies

Somerset properties are subject to either the State Government Fire Levy - applying in Esk, Kilcoy, Lowood and Toogoolawah urban areas - or the rural fire levy.

Properties that are not subject to the State Government Fire Levy and are not used for farming and consist of more than 1 lot are subject to the rural fire levy for each lot.

The rural fire levy is a rate of the Somerset Regional Council. 96.25% of the levy is passed on to volunteer brigades operating in the Shire. The remaining 3.75% of the levy is retained by Council to support rural fire activities in the Shire.

Please support your local brigades. This levy is not a huge impost compared to the terrific work done by the rural fire brigades.

State Emergency Service (SES) levy

Council provides funding for local SES groups and SES cadets through an SES levy on each rate notice.

The money is spent on vehicle and boat costs, phones and communications, SES bases, an SES coordinator and other costs.

Like the rural fire brigades, SES members are dedicated volunteers who do a terrific job. Please support them.

Environmental levy

Council is actively working with a number of groups to improve our local environment and in particular control weeds. These activities are partly funded through an environmental levy on each rate notice.

Payment methods

Details about payment methods.

HAVE YOU MOVED RECENTLY??

To ensure the prompt receipt of your rates notice and to avoid missing out on your discount, please keep Council informed about your current postal address. You can do this by phone or email to mail@somerset.qld.gov.au.