Rates

aerial-photo.jpg

How Are Rates Calculated 

A rate notice may contain some or all of the following rates and charges. Further details on the charges outlined can be found in the adopted Revenue Statement.

Revenue Statement 2023-24.pdf(PDF, 9MB)

Rating Category Booklet 2023-24.pdf(PDF, 394KB)

General Rates

The General rates are issued twice yearly and reflect the cost of services, facilities & activities that are supplied or undertaken for the benefit of the community (rather than an individual person).

Every property within the Western Downs Region is placed into a differential rating category for the purpose of calculating the general rates. Council has determined these rating categories based on the different types of land use and the different levels of services provided.

The Queensland Department of Resources issues the land valuation for each property and this is used to calculate the general rates. The General rate is calculated on each property by multiplying the land valuation by the rate in the dollar for the respective differential rating category. This calculation will be compared to the minimum general rates determined by Council that are applied to each category and the effective general rate will be the higher of the two amounts.

How-are-my-Rates-Calculated.png

Read the 'How are my Rates Calculated?' Flyer here(PDF, 2MB)

Rates Group 1 - Residential

Category Description Rate in $ Full Year Minimum
1/1 Residential - Localities of Chinchilla, Dalby or Miles $0.020436 $1,056.00
1/2 Residential - Localities of Bell, Jandowae, Tara or Wandoan $0.014318 $949.00
1/3 Residential - Other Localities $0.013170 $842.00
1/10 Large Residential - Localities of Chinchilla, Dalby or Miles $0.015970 $1,056.00
1/11 Large Residential - Localities of Bell, Jandowae, Tara or Wandoan $0.011502 $949.00
1/12 Large Residential - Other Localities $0.009350 $842.00
1/20 Rural Residential - Colkerri, Hustons Road or Mowbullan $0.011800 $1,056.00

 

Rates Group 2 - Commercial / Industrial

Category Description Rate in $ Full Year Minimum
2/1 Special Purposes - Localities of Chinchilla, Dalby or Miles $0.017502 $1,056.00
2/2 Special Purposes - Other Localities $0.010856 $842.00
2/5 Warehouses and/or Bulk Stores $0.020706 $4,807.00
2/10 Industrial, Transport and/or Storage - Localities of Chinchilla, Dalby or Miles $0.023892 $1,335.00
2/11 Industrial, Transport and/or Storage - Localities of Bell, Jandowae, Tara or Wandoan $0.025530 $1,015.00
2/12 Industrial, Transport and/or Storage - Other Localities $0.012050 $908.00
2/15 Cotton Gins $0.061574 $3,731.00
2/20 Petroleum or Other Distilling Plants $0.073956

$13,354.00

2/30 Transmission/Substation Sites - Less than 1 MVA $0.049780 $1,731.00
2/31 Transmission/Substation Sites - 1 MVA to less than 10 MVA $0.354766 $24,198.00
2/32 Transmission/Substation Sites - 10 MVA or Greater $0.708728 $69,567.00
2/35 Sawmills $0.082890 $3,731.00
2/36 Noxious Industrial $0.066216 $18,026.00
2/40 Extractive Industry - Less than 5,001 tonnes $0.023890 $1,731.00
2/43 Extractive Industry - 5,001 tonnes or Greater $0.084612 $12,500.00
2/50 Abattoir $0.019040 $1,714.00
2/52 Hydrogen Production Facility $0.093370 $67,147.00
2/77 Renewable Energy Generation Facility 0.056870 $25,000.00
2/87 Battery Storage Facility $0.743630 $29,745.00
2/90 Retail, Commercial Business - Locality of Dalby $0.025638 $1,335.00
2/91 Retail, Commercial Business - Localities of Chinchilla or Miles $0.038180 $1,335.00
2/92 Retail, Commercial Business - Localities of Bell, Jandowae, Tara or Wandoan $0.020244 $1,015.00
2/93 Retail, Commercial Business - Other Localities $0.009488 $908.00
2/95 Shopping Centres - Less than 5,000 square metres $0.026470 $45,288.00
2/96 Shopping Centres - 5,000 square metres to 10,000 square metres $0.035066 $101,012.00
2/97 Shopping Centres - Greater than 10,000 square metres $0.041282 $200,300.00

 

Rates Group 3 - Rural

Category Description Rate in $ Full Year Minimum
3/1 Rural $0.002586 $774.00
3/10 Cattle Feedlot - 501 SCU to 1,000 SCU $0.002586 $1,433.00
3/11 Cattle Feedlot - 1,001 SCU to 3,000 SCU $0.002586 $3,577.00
3/12 Cattle Feedlot - 3,001 SCU to 5,000 SCU $0.002586 $6,297.00
3/13 Cattle Feedlot - 5,001 SCU to 10,000 SCU $0.002586 $11,776.00
3/14 Cattle Feedlot - 10,001 SCU to 20,000 SCU $0.002586 $25,240.00
3/15 Cattle Feedlot - 20,001 SCU to 30,000 SCU $0.002586 $39,062.00
3/16 Cattle Feedlot - 30,001 SCU to 40,000 SCU $0.002586 $60,090.00
3/17 Cattle Feedlot - 40,001 SCU to 60,000 SCU $0.002586 $82,624.00
3/18 Cattle Feedlot - 60,001 SCU to 100,000 SCU $0.002586 $120,178.00
3/19 Cattle Feedlot - Greater than 100,000 SCU $0.002586 $180,187.00
3/30 Piggery - 2,500 SPU to 5,000 SPU $0.002586 $1,433.00
3/31 Piggery - 5,001 SPU to 10,000 SPU $0.002586 $1,860.00
3/32 Piggery - 10,001 SPU to 20,000 SPU $0.002586 $3,577.00
3/33 Piggery - 20,001 SPU to 50,000 SPU $0.002586 $10,864.00
3/34 Piggery - 50,001 SPU to 100,000 SPU $0.002586 $21,728.00
3/35 Piggery - 100,001 SPU to 150,000 SPU $0.002586 $45,067.00
3/36 Piggery - 150,001 SPU to 200,000 SPU $0.002586 $60,090.00
3/37 Piggery - 200,001 SPU to 350,000 SPU $0.002586 $120,178.00
3/38 Piggery - Greater than 350,000 SPU $0.002586 $180,187.00
3/40 Poultry - Up to 200,000 Birds $0.002586 $7,478.00
3/41 Poultry - 201,000 Birds or Greater $0.002586 $11,385.00
3/50 Intensive Animal $0.002586 $1,500.00
3/60 Small Rural - Localities of Chinchilla, Dalby or Miles $0.005690 $1,056.00
3/61 Small Rural - Localities of Bell, Jandowae, Tara or Wandoan $0.003864 $949.00
3/62 Small Rural - Other Localities $0.003620 $842.00

 

Rates Group 4 - Other Intensive Business & Industry

Category Description Rate in $ Full Year Minimum
4/1 Petroleum Lease - Gas $2.308070 $75,898.00
4/5 Petroleum Lease - Petroleum/Shale Crude Oil - Less than 10 wells $0.042024 $6,118.00
4/6 Petroleum Lease - Petroleum/Shale Crude Oil - 10 to 19 wells $1.152914 $30,553.00
4/7 Petroleum Lease - Petroleum/Shale Crude Oil - 20 to 29 wells $1.306018 $100,815.00
4/8 Petroleum Lease - Petroleum/Shale Crude Oil - At least 30 wells $1.307552 $201,655.00
4/10 Petroleum Other - Less than 400 Hectares $0.138020 $55,880.00
4/11 Petroleum Other - 400 Hectares or greater $0.025846 $74,866.00
4/15 Coal Fired Power Station $1.359912 $605,161.00
4/20 Gas Fired Power Station - Less than 50 Megawatts $1.202010 $11,621.00
4/21 Gas Fired Power Station - At least 50 Megawatts to less than 200 Megawatts $0.395344 $112,957.00
4/22 Gas Fired Power Station - 200 Megawatts or Greater $5.470740 $424,214.00
4/30 Future Coal Mining $0.004802 $7,054.00
4/31 Coal Mining 0 to 100 employees $0.033528 $58,060.00
4/32 Coal Mining 101 to 200 employees $0.337864 $74,045.00
4/33 Coal Mining at least 200 employees $0.568404 $99,990.00
4/35 Abandoned Coal Mine $0.042212 $10,389.00
4/40 Mining Lease (Coal) - 0 to 100 employees $0.080924 $58,060.00
4/41 Mining Lease (Coal) - 101 to 200 employees $0.269544 $74,045.00
4/42 Mining Lease (Coal) - At least 200 employees $0.462654 $99,990.00
4/45 Mining Lease (Abandoned Coal Mine) $0.053140 $10,389.00
4/50 Other Mining $0.131742 $14,500.00
4/60 Mining Lease (Other) - Not greater than 100 Hectares $0.026320 $1,664.00
4/61 Mining Lease (Other) - 100 Hectares or Greater $0.164676 $15,500.00
4/84 Workforce Accommodation - 5 to 10 persons $0.106808 $4,842.00
4/85 Workforce Accommodation - 11 to 100 persons $0.213618 $17,442.00
4/86 Workforce Accommodation - 101 to 300 persons $0.510000 $145,350.00
4/87 Workforce Accommodation - 301 to 500 persons $0.510000 $436,050.00
4/88 Workforce Accommodation - 501 to 900 persons $0.510000 $532,948.00
4/89 Workforce Accommodation -Greater than 900 persons $0.510000 $920,548.00

 

Waste Management & Environmental Waste Levy

Council provides a Standard Regional Waste Collection, Recycling & Disposal Service (standard service) to all premises or structures with the boundaries of the declared waste collection service area.

This standard waste service includes one 240L waste bin that is collected weekly as well as one 240L recycling waste bin that is collected fortnightly. This standard service is is provided to each premise or structure that appears to be in use as a dwelling, lived in or occupied or able to be lived in within the boundaries of the declared waste collection service areas.

An environmental waste levy is levied equally on all rateable properties in commercial, industrial and rural categories, which are not levied a waste collection charge.

These charges cover the costs associated with the collection & disposal of rubbish as well as a contribution to the operational costs of Council's waste management facilities in the region.

Regional Waste

Collection Charges

2023/24

Category/Charge Description Full Year
7/1 Waste & Recycling (Regional) Domestic $414.30
7/2 Waste & Recycling (Regional) Non-Dom $485.60
120/1 Environmental Waste Levy $107.00

Utility Charges

Sewerage Charges

Sewerage utility charges are levied on each property assessment that are in the declared wastewater network area, irrespective of whether the property is connected to the network & to every rateable assessment outside the declared sewerage network but which is connected to Council's sewerage network.

Revenue from these charges is used to assist with the costs of operating, maintaining & managing the sewerage systems.

Regional Sewerage

Charges

2023/24

Category/Charge

Description

Full Year
100/1 Connected Premises (Per Assessment) $617.20
101/1 Additional Pedestals $527.60
104/1 Unconnected Premises (Per Assessment) $476.70
105/1 Intensive Accommodation - All Schemes (Per Assessment) $617.20

Water Charges

Council has adopted a two-part charging methodology, comprising of an access charge as well as a volumetric charge. 

An access charge is levied on every rateable assessment within the declared water service area, regardless of whether they are connected to the water network, assessments that are outside the declared water service area but which are connected to the network and to all non-rateable assessments that are connected to the water service network.

Revenue from these charges is used to assist with the costs of operating, maintaining & managing the water network systems.

Regional Water

Charges

2023/24

Category/Charge

Description

Full Year
200/1 Standard Access Charge (20mm or 25mm) $498.70
201/1 Standard Access Charge with 100mm Detector $826.70
202/1 Standard Access Charge with 150mm Detector $957.20
203/1 32mm Access Charge $587.50
204/1 32mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $915.60
205/1 32mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,046.10
206/1 40mm Access Charge $617.20
207/1 40mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $945.50
208/1 40mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,075.70
209/1 50mm Access Charge $680.10
210/1 50mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $1,008.20
211/1 50mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,138.50
212/1 65mm Access Charge $685.20
213/1 65mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $1,013.40
214/1 65mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,143.80
215/1 80mm Access Charge $690.50
216/1 80mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $1,018.70
217/1 80mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,149.00
218/1 100mm Access Charge $728.90
219/1 100mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $1,057.10
220/1 100mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,187.30
221/1 150mm Access Charge $1,454.00
222/1 150mm Access Charge with 100mm Detector $1,782.10
223/1 150mm Access Charge with 150mm Detector $1,912.60

Click here for more information

Special Charges

Special charges refer to the rural fire brigade levies, as well as road special charges. 

Council levies a rural fire levy on all rateable properties within the rural fire brigade benefited area, to fund the provision of rural firefighting services. The funds collected from this levy is paid in full to the appropriate rural fire brigade.

Road special charges are paid by ratepayers of quarries or coal mines where vehicles used to transport gravel or coal subject roads to excessive wear and tear. 

Further information in regards to these charges can be located in the 2023/24 Revenue Statement.

Emergency Management Levy

This levy is a State Government levy that is collected via your Council Rates Notice. The levies are paid to the State Government. The purpose of the EML is to contribute to the provision of emergency services i.e. fire, ambulance, and disaster services. 

Each prescribed property now attracts an EML subject to the following exemptions: adjoining or contiguous lots, under the same ownership, which are used for bona fide primary production, or where a building is built across the adjoining lots. 

For further information on the Emergency Management Levy, please contact Queensland Fire and Emergency Services on 13 74 68 or visit Queensland Fire & Emergency Services.

Concessions

Rebates are offered to eligible pensioners and community organisations on rating & utility charges.

Pension Rebate

Eligible pensioners may be entitled to receive a Council concession and a State concession on certain rates and charges. To receive the subsidy, you must :

  • Hold either a Queensland Pensioner Concession Card (issued by Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs)
  • Department of Veterans' Affair Heath Card for all conditions (Gold Card)

With this, the ratepayer must also be :

  • The owner or life tenant* of the property, which is your principle place of residence & located in Queensland
  • Legally responsible for the payment of local council rates & charges levied on the property

*A life tenancy can only be created by a valid will and is effective only after death of the property owner, or by a Supreme or Family Court order.

For a customer to be eligible to receive a pension remission, they must meet the following conditions :

  • The address on the pension card must match the property address on Council's records
  • The name on the pension card must match the customers name on Council's records
  • PCC Entitlement must show as a yes

Applications for Pensioner Remissions close on the discount date of each period and an Application for Council Rates Remission & State Government Rates Subsidy form needs to be completed with a photocopy of both sides of the pension card to be provided.  

Application Rates Pension Remission Form(PDF, 125KB)

Rating & Utilities Concession

The Rates & Utilities Concession is a concession that is granted to eligible not-for-profit (or non-profit) community organisation that are responsible for the payment of rates & utility charges as the owner or leasee of land under the Rates and Utilities Charge Concession for Community Organisation - Council Policy. This acknowledges the valued services provided by organisations and aims to assist with the provision of such services.

Eligible organisations can be granted the nominated concession (expressed as percentages against each concession category) as stated in the Council Policy for general rates, waste utility charges, sewerage charges, water access charges & water consumption charges.

Further information on Council's Rating & Utilities Concession can be found on the Policy link below as well as the Application Forms to be completed by organisations -

Rates & Utility Concession - Council Policy

New Application Rates Utilities Charges Concession Community Organisations(PDF, 220KB)

Renewal Application Rates Utilities Charges Concession Community Organisations(PDF, 206KB)

 

Understanding Your Rates

Each property is placed in a differential rating category for calculating the general rate. Differential rating categories are explained further in the Revenue Statement. 

Objection Against Categorisation

If you consider that, as at the date of issue of the rates notice, your land should have been included in another differential rating category, you may object. Objections to categorisation of your land must be lodged with Council on a Notice of Objection Against Categorisation form within 30 days of the issue date of the rates notice.

If, as a result of the objection, the subject land is re-categorised, an adjustment of the general rate will be made, and an amended rates notice will be issued. The lodgment of an objection does not confer a right to delay payment of rates. Payment by the due date is a requirement.

For avoidance of doubt, Council delegates to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) the power (contained in section 81 (4) and (5) of the Local Government Regulation 2012) to identify the rating category to which each parcel of rateable land belongs. In carrying out this task, the CEO may consider, without limitation, Department of Resources (DOR) land use codes, with or without modifications made by Council.

Objection Against Categorisation Form(PDF, 281KB)

Change Address & Receiving Your Correspondence Electronically

Change of Address

It is the responsibility of the property owner to notify Council of any address changes. 

Please contact Council on 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624) or 07 4679 4000 (Interstate callers) to update your address details.

Receiving Your Correspondence Electronically

By switching to electronic billing, you will receive your rates/water/gas notices as a PDF to your nominated email address and you will no longer receive a paper copy by regular post. 

To register for email delivery, you simply need to contact Council by phoning 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624) and provide a current email address (you cannot register multiple email addresses per property).

Payment Options

There are a number of ways to make payments on your rates/water/gas notices:

 

P

In Person  Pay at your nearest Customer Service Centre (Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles, Jandowae, Tara & Wandoan)
eServices Council's secure online portal
Credit Card

Please call 13 18 16 and quote Post Billpay code located on the front of your notice

Payment Plan Phone 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624) or 07 4679 4000
Post Billpay Present your notice at any Post Office with your payment
Bpay

Contact your Financial Institution to make a payment from your bank account. Bpay limit is $150,000

Bpay View

Register with your internet banker if you wish to use this option and receive your notices electronically.

Type in your Biller Code & your Reference Number as they appear on the front of your notice.

Your bank will notify you when your notices arrive.

Direct Debit

Available weekly, fortnighly or on the due date of your notice.

A Direct Debit Application Form(PDF, 183KB)  will need to be completed.

Or to amend your current direct debit, please complete the Amend Direct Debit Form(PDF, 396KB)

Cheque

Present over the Counter at any of the Customer Service

Centre or post to PO Box 551, Dalby QLD 4405

(please allow sufficient postage time for your payment to be received at our office by the due date)

Please allow at least three (3) business days for Council to receive your electronic payments and please note that recent changes mean that Council are no longer able to accept foreign cheques. Should you need to pay from an international account, please contact Council's Financial Planning Department on 1300 268 624 or email info@wdrc.qld.gov.au.

Rates Refund or Transfer

If your account is in credit:

If your rates/water/gas accounts are currently in credit, you may request a refund of the credit amount by completing the Request Refund Credit Form. Please note that all accounts with Council must have no outstanding amounts for a refund to be processed.

Request Refund Credit Form(PDF, 366KB)

To transfer credit:

If you need to transfer credit between your rates/water/gas accounts, you can now do so over the phone. Please call Council's Customer Service Team on 1300 268 624 to complete this request. Please note that further documentation may need to be provide for the request to be processed.

Discount & Interest

Discount

A discount of 5% will be allowed on current rates and charges levied (excluding special charges and the State Emergency Management Levy) if all rates arrears (including interest) and current rates and charges are paid in full by the due date printed on the Rates Notice.

Payments received by Council or one of its appointed agents prior to the close of business on the due date on the specified Rates or Water Notice will attract the discount. For clarification purposes, full payment which is deposited by electronic means to the Council’s bank account or its appointed agents prior to the close of business (i.e. the payment has been credited to Council’s bank account or received by its appointed agents by the close of business) on or before the due date specified on the Notice will attract the discount specified. Discount will not be allowed on payments received after the close of business on the due date unless Council is satisfied that payment was not made by close of business on the due date because of circumstances for which the Council was responsible.

Interest

For 2022/23, interest at the rate of 11.64% per annum compounding daily will apply to all rates and charges which remain unpaid 30 days after the due date for payment.

Payment Plans & Debt Recovery

If you need assistance paying your rates/water/gas:

Council offers many ways we can help you manage your outstanding rates/water/gas debts. Some of these options include:

  • paying in weekly, fortnightly and monthly instalments and
  • entering into an approved payment plan (you will need a new payment plan upon issue of every new rates/water/gas notice)

Payment plans offer benefits such as the customer being able to choose how often they make payments & no further debt recovery action is taken to recover the debt (as long as you don't miss a payment).

To enter into a payment plan, please contact the Customer Service Team on 1300 268 624 to submit your payment proposal or visit your nearest Customer Service Centre.

Debt Recovery

As part of the Rates and Charges Collection Policy, Council reserves the right to refer the details of any ratepayers that have outstanding rates and charges to a debt collection agency to commence further debt recovery action.

For further information in regards to Council's Rates & Charges Collection Policy, please see Rates & Charges Collection Policy 2023/24.

Rates & Water Searches

A Rates search can be requested by completing the Property Search Request Form, returning to Council and paying the applicable fees. 

Property Search Request form(PDF, 978KB)

Potential rating implications associated with Development Approvals

Acting upon a development approval can impact upon the rates which are levied against the property, as general rates are calculated based on the differential rating category and the statutory land valuation set by Queensland Government's Department of Resources.

The differential rating category is determined by having regard to the land uses which are occurring on the property. Similarly, the statutory land valuation is determined considering the land's use and zoning under the relevant planning scheme.  In some instances, a change of use may result in a significant increase to the general rate which is applied to the property.

Information regarding Council's rating categories and associated charges can be viewed here.

Alternatively, Council's Rates and Charges team can be contacted on 1300 268 624, (07) 4679 4000 if interstate caller, or info@wdrc.qld.gov.au. The team can provide assistance with understanding any consequences of a material change of use on the rating category for the property and any subsequent change to the general rate.

Information regarding statutory land valuations can be viewed here.