Western Downs Regional Council shoots down massive rates discount championed by Crs Moore and Tillman

Ratepayers are faced with all-time-high costs after a proposal from two councillors to double the current discount for bills paid on time has been canned. Here’s how you can still save:

With Western Downs general rates reaching an all-time-high two councillors went to bat for ratepayers, proposing a massive discount for ratepayers. Picture: Supplied

In the lead-up to the biggest ever general rate increase for Western Downs residents, a proposal from two councillors to double the discount for those who paid their bill on time has been shot down.

Western Downs Cr Carolyn Tillman, pictured with Mayor Paul McVeigh, seconded Cr George Moore’s move to allow ratepayers a larger discount when their bill was paid on time. Picture: Supplied

WDRC announced in June that general rates would rise to 4.5 per cent up from 2.5 per in 2020, following a predicted $1m revenue shortfall due to a decline in the resource industry.

Before the rates increase was approved, councillors George Moore and Carolyn Tillman threw their weight behind an amendment to provide ratepayers with a 10 per cent discount across six rate categories.

Their recommendations ended up falling on deaf ears at a special council meeting that same month, with the remaining councillors voting to keep the discount at 5 per cent across the board.

Ratepayers can apply for the 5 per cent on any or all of general rates, water charges, recycled water charges, sewerage charges, the environmental waste levy, and waste/recycling/garbage/collection/disposal/rural/commercial and industrial waste charges.

Western Downs Cr George Moore and Cr Carolyn Tillman fought for ratepayers to be entitles to a larger discount on their rates bill, upping the proposed 5% to 10%. Picture: Peta McEachern

The discount only applies to bills paid on time (within 30 days of the notice) including relevant rates, charges, and interest.

Councillors moved unanimously to allow special consideration to pensioners and mining or quarrying workers when considering the rates increase.

The decision resulted in pensioners being eligible to reduce their bill by $200 per year.

Those who fall under the mining or quarrying rate category are eligible for a rebate on special rate charges for road maintenance if the works were carried out during a dormant period.

Although the council stipulated a maximum amount pensioners were eligible for, miners received no such limitation – apart from the deal expiring after 2022.

In the lead-up to the biggest general rate increase for Western Downs residents, Cr George Moore and Cr Carolyn Tillman fought for a bigger discount although remaining councillors shot down their proposal. Picture: Supplied

Minimal rates breakdown annually for 2021-2022

The starting point of annual rates for residents who own a property on less than one acre range from $637 to $903 depending on locality, with Dalby and Chinchilla being the most expensive places to live.

Wind farms will pay from $184,500 to $246,000 depending on the MW capacity under the new rates structure, and solar farms peaked at $695,231 at a 1100MW facility.

Petroleum and gas leases will pay between $45,301 and $400,522, although extracting crude oil lowers the bar $5481 to $180,670 for land with at least 30 wells.

Those who pay the most in rates are workforce accommodation providers who pay $130,224 for a 200-person facility and an eye-watering $911,564 for a 1,000-person facility.