Gympie and Noosa Mayors united to reduce impact of land valuations on rates

Mayors of Gympie and Noosa councils will lobby the state government for a review of Queensland’s rating system to lessen the financial impact that dramatic land value increases are having on ratepayers.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig, who will lobby the Minister alongside Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said, “There appears to be little common sense to conducting land valuations two years in a row, at the peak of a cycle.  The Gympie region was revalued last year and to have the inflated impact of the property cycle thrust on council again, with no apparent logic, causes unnecessary distress for residents.

“The rate payers, and our wider resident base, have been through enough with three floods, COVID and a range of other challenges over the last couple of years. It is council’s job to ensure rate increases are kept to a minimum at a time where there is already so much financial pressure.”

Mayor Stewart has requested a meeting with the state’s Resources Minister, Scott Stewart, to call for changes.

In Queensland, under the Local Government Act, councils calculate rates as a percentage of land values, as assessed by the state’s valuer, the Valuer-General.

“It’s not just owners of properties in the more expensive areas facing increases, it’s homeowners right across both Mayor Hartwig’s and my region who have seen their land valuations jump by more than 50 per cent. I agree with Mayor Hartwig that at a time where there is a considerable amount of angst in our communities around affordability, I see the position the state have taken on land valuations in our region as excessive.” Mayor Stewart said.

“I am hoping that by providing a united front, Mayor Hartwig and I will be able to advocate favorably to the state, on behalf of our respective residents,” she said.

Any property owner can object to the State Government determined land valuation. Should ratepayers have any concerns over the valuation outcome, council highly recommends they contact the State Valuation Service to query or lodge an objection. Call 1300 664 217 or visit www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/valuation/objections/lodge-objections