Rates & Charges
General Rates are calculated on the unimproved value of land according to the following categories:
General Rates are calculated on the unimproved value of land according to the following categories:
The terms "Longreach", "Ilfracombe" and "Isisford" refer to the former local government areas in accordance with the Local Government Amendment Regulation (No. 3) 2008.
Category 1 - Longreach Residential
Longreach Residential lands are those parcels situated within the confines of the Longreach town boundaries with primary land use codes consistent with residential activities.
Category 2 - Longreach Rural
Longreach Rural lands are those parcels situated outside the confines of the Longreach town boundaries and with primary land use codes consistent with rural activities.
Category 3 - Longreach Business/Commercial/Retail
Longreach Business/Commercial/Retail are those allotments identified throughout the former Longreach Shire with primary land use codes consistent with such activities (10 - 25) and have been identified by Council subsequent to development approval.
Category 4 - Longreach Industrial
Longreach Industrial lands are those allotments identified throughout the former Longreach Shire with primary land use codes consistent with such activities (28 -50) and have been identified by Council subsequent to development approval.
Category 5 - Longreach Rural/Residential
Longreach Rural/Residential lands are those identified on Plans SP127208, SP142649, GTP101601, RP887821, SP111287, SP152785, SP152784, CP851193, AP8757, POR5776, C6183, C6181, and are less that 25Ha.
Category 6 - Longreach Other (Vacant, Non-Profit, Religions)
Longreach Other are all other vacant land in the former Longreach Shire not yet developed as Category 1, 3 or 4, or land owned by a non profit organisation or religious institution.
Categories 7 - Ilfracombe Urban
Ilfracombe Urban lands are all rateable properties in the former Ilfracombe Shire areas which are not included in category 8.
Category 8 - Ilfracombe Rural
Ilfracombe Rural lands are those parcels situated outside the confines of the Ilfracombe town boundaries but within the area formally known as Ilfracombe Shire and with primary land use codes consistent with rural activities.
Category 9 - Isisford/Yaraka Urban
Isisford Urban lands are all rateable properties in the former Isisford Shire areas which are not included in category 10.
Category 10 - Isisford/Yaraka Rural
Isisford Rural lands are those parcels situated outside the confines of the Isisford and Yaraka town boundaries but within the area formally known as Isisford Shire and with primary land use codes consistent with rural activities.
The unimproved value of the land is provided by Department of Natural Resources & Water. Contact the Longreach Service Centre on 07 4650 1900.
For the current differential rate please see Council's Budget document.
Your land has been identified by the Longreach Regional Council as being in the category as stated on the front of your rate notice. You have the right to object to this categorisation of the land by written notice to the Chief Executive Officer within 30 days of the issue of the rate notice. The sole basis on which you (the owner) may object is that the land should have been included in another category as at the date of issue of the rate notice. The lodgement of an objection does not, in the meantime, affect the levy and recovery of rates. Should your objection be upheld and the category amended then an adjustment will be made.
Sewerage Charges
An annual charge is levied on all premises in the towns of Longreach, Ilfracombe & Isisford where Council is prepared to provide a sewerage service. For the current sewerage charges please see Council's Budget document.
River Water Charges
A water charge is levied entitling the consumer to use a specified amount with any usage above this being paid for at a rate per kilolitre. In the case of land not connected to the Council's water supply but capable of being connected, a vacant water charge is applied to contribute toward the cost of the water supply infrastructure. For the current river water charges please see Council's Budget document.
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Excess River Water - For each parcel or lot of land to which water is supplied (other than bulk water) and measured by meter, a charge shall be levied per kl or part thereof for that quantity of water used or estimated to be used in excess of the allocation for the first 300 kl in excess AND for each kl in excess of 300 kl.
The quantity of water used may, when a meter fails or registers inaccurately, be estimated by the Director Engineering Services using the use for the same quarter of the previous year or an average of the previous year and having regard for climatic conditions.
Meter Reading and Charges
Meters are read and usage billed as follows:
Connections for properties not on a bulk water supply billing arrangement:
- Read half-yearly during the months of June and December
- Excess Water charges for usage above the annual allocation allowance are issued annually in July each year.
Connections for properties on a bulk water supply billing arrangement:
- Read quarterly during the months of March, June, September and December
- Charges for actual usage are issued quarterly in January, April, July, and October each year.
Handling of Complaints about water meter readings
Customers querying their water meter readings may request a check of the readings. This will be undertaken at no cost by Council Officers.
Customers querying the accuracy of the meter servicing their property must pay the water meter test fee as prescribed by Council at the time of requesting such a test.
In the event that an examination of the meter reveals any evidence of tampering or deliberate damage no amendments will be made to charges, no refund of the test fee provided and the replacement of the meter will be at the property owners cost.
In the event that the water meter test conducted by Council shows that the meter is recording consumption over the test period of 5% or more over the test meter readings, Council will replace the meter at Council's cost, refund the meter test fee and proportionally adjust the consumption charges for the last billing period in accordance with the level of error being recorded.
Bore Water Charges
All properties connected to Council's bore water supply network will be levied a standard charge, in order to identify the bore supply as a separate service. Council has a policy to continue this service for properties currently connected however it does not allow new connections, reconnections of any previously disconnected services or any new extensions to the reticulation system. Council is currently examining avenues to better manage the Bore Water supply in order to make the service socially, environmentally and financially acceptable to the community. For the current bore water charge please see Council's Budget document.
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Bulk Water Charges
The Council has decided for certain properties that instead of allocating a number of units it will charge in bulk (quarterly) for all water supplied and measured by meter. This charge shall be in lieu of the unit based charge for River Water. See Council's Budget document for a list of properties that are supplied with Bulk Water and the current charge.
Cleansing Charges (Garbage Collection)
An annual charge is levied on all premises in the towns of Longreach, Ilfracombe, Isisford and Yaraka where Council is prepared to provide a refuse collection service. The charges are intended to cover the cost of collection and disposal of refuse. Charges for refuse services will commence upon premises being considered to be able to be occupied and the delivery of the 240 litre bin to the premises by Council.
A minimum service of one single weekly 240 litre cart service shall apply to every occupied business and occupied residence within the declared refuse area. A minimum service of one twice weekly 240 litre cart service shall apply to every occupied business premise whose activities involve the preparation or sale of foodstuffs.
No adjustment shall be made for non occupancy or use of premises less than 6 months in duration. No adjustment shall be made for non occupancy or use of premises until written advice is given to Council and only from the date of receipt of that advice and the return of the relevant bins provided to Council.
For the current cleansing charges please see Council's Budget document.
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