Gympie rates not as bad as study claims

A COMPARISON of rates and charges in local government areas across Queensland has ranked Gympie as one of the most expensive places in the state to live.

A COMPARISON of rates and charges in local government areas across Queensland has ranked Gympie as one of the most expensive places in the state to live.

The comparison of 16 councils, collated by Bundaberg Shire Council, concluded that Brisbane was the cheapest place to live in terms of rates and related fees and charges, followed by Ipswich, Noosa, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

The Gympie region was the third most expensive and the Fraser Coast the most.

Gympie Deputy Mayor Tony Perrett said there were 77 councils in Queensland in nine different categories.

Brisbane, category 8, has a high density population, compact area and a minimum general rate of $523.

Gympie, category 4 (like Noosa), is 7000sq km, of which more than 40% is Crown land and "non-rateable," Cr Perrett said.

Our minimum general rate is mid-range at $1017.

The table was based on a calculation of the MGR, sewerage, waste collection, water access and other individual charges.

For some reason it did not include water usage charges, which would have altered the outcome significantly, Cr Perrett said.

With water use charges included in the calculation, Gympie moves up the ranking to ninth place, but Brisbane is still the cheapest, followed by Cairns, Bundaberg, Townsville, Gladstone and then Noosa.

Gympie ratepayers on the MGR pay a total $2804 annually for rates, waste collection, sewerage, water and ancillary fees. Sunshine Coast ratepayers pay $2749, and Brisbane $2276.

Cr Perrett said it would have been more accurate to base the comparison on the average general rate, as having a low minimum general rate did not mean much if only a small proportion of ratepayers paid it.

"The South Burnett has an MGR of only $615 but the average residential general rate is $1079, higher than Gympie's $1036," he said.

Gympie Regional Council was in a very strong financial position with good cash reserves, low borrowings and no new borrowings this financial year, he said.

"Everything we have is raised from generate rate revenue and reserves," he said.

"We are a council with almost 7000sq km that has vast rural areas, small rural towns, coastal towns and multiple small towns across the region which we have to provide basic infrastructure for like water and sewerage."

Fast facts

How Gympie Regional Council rates and charges compare, based on the minimum general rate:

Brisbane

$2276

Bundaberg

$2483

Noosa

$2697

Sunshine Coast

$2749

Gympie

$2804

Redlands

$2839

Moreton Bay

$2957

Gold Coast

$2973

Mackay

$3167

Rockhampton

$3202

Logan

$3241

Fraser Coast

$3259