Lockyer Valley Regional Council calls on valuer general to assess recently property sales

A regional Queensland council is calling on the state government to issue new land valuations for the local government area, in bid to soften the blow of future rate rises.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council mayor Tanya Milligan. Photo: Ali Kuchel

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has called on the Queensland Valuer-General to undertake a new land valuation for the region in bid to soften the blow of future rate rises.

The councillors voted to request a revaluation so that the current economic conditions, market movements and the influence of recent land sales were accurately reflected in property values.

These valuations influence the council rates.

If the revaluation proceeds, it will take effect from June 30, 2026, three years after the last valuation.

“Conducting regular valuations helps minimise unexpected fluctuations in rates and provides ratepayers with greater confidence in the fairness and consistency of their assessment,” Mayor Tanya Milligan said in a statement.

“It is also worth noting that the cost of valuations is about $170,000, and Council must pay this cost annually whether a valuation is conducted or not, which I personally think is highway robbery, so it makes sense to use this money wisely and regularly to get the most up-to-date land values for our community.

“If the Valuer-General decides to undertake the revaluation, the new values will be supplied to us by March 2026 and included within the rates modelling for the 2026-27 Budget.”

The Valuer-General is responsible for determining the value of rateable land and this forms the basis for general rates levied by Council each year.

As land values fluctuate over time, the Valuer-General is required to review these valuations annually.

The Toowoomba region received its updated Valuer-General’s assessment in March.

It found the values had increased by 31 per cent,

The largest increases in values were the Paroo and Murweh Shires, which are centred on Cunnamulla and Charleville.

They jumped at a whopping 247 and 238 per cent respectively.

In response, Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald said the council would look at what measure it could put in place to constrain the associated rate increases.

“A big spike on your land valuation from the Queensland Valuer-General does not automatically mean a big spike in your council rates,” he said.

“In the formation of our 2025/26 Budget, the council can implement a number of measures to smooth out the valuation to ensure residents are not adversely affected by a large valuation increase.”