Council says no to further land valuations

After three years of land valuation rises across the Gympie region, the council has asked if landowners could be left alone in the 2024- 25 financial year.

Gympie multimillion dollar houses

After three years of successive land valuation increases, Gympie councillors took their chance to happily “say no” to what Mayor Glen Hartwig described as “frustrating” increases in land values.

Each year, by law, the Department of Resources issues land valuations across Queensland, announced in March to come into effect in July.

This year’s March announcement revealed an average 41 per cent increase across the Gympie region, with some areas going up in value by 70 per cent.

Valuations must be completed at least once every three years and can influence council rates, land taxes and rent from state land.

Gympie Regional Council staff recommended councillors request no land valuations be made for the following financial year (2024-2025), particularly after three consecutive years of increases, recent multiple interest rate rises, cost of living rises and the potential impact on the council’s annual budget to be brought down in late July.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux scoffed at what influence the council might have in swaying the decision by the Qld valuer-general, who is required by law to consult with local councils over the matter.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux voted yes in protest for the land valuations saying it was a waste of time to ask.

“Why are they asking, when they just do what they want anyway?” Mr Devereaux asked during Wednesday’s general meeting.

“Why waste everybody’s time?

“At the end of the day it is up to them, and I guess they are seeking a bit of input,” Mr Hartwig said.

“It is frustrating when council does say we’d rather wait every three years. They don’t care, they do it anyway.”

Mr Hartwig explained the process of council needing to smooth out the increases or decreases with council rates in relation to valuations.

Mayor Glen Hartwig described the continuous land valuations as “frustrating” and not completely fair due to the vast differences of properties across the Gympie region.

“It’s never completely fair and equitable right across the category or the band and having them do it annually just creates a headache for us as a council because rural properties on the eastern side may have a different valuation as rural properties on the western side,” he said.

The vote was all in favour of skipping next year, apart from Mr Devereaux, who cast his vote in protest.

“I just refuse to be part of the vote, they are going to do it anyway, they can make their mind up,” Mr Devereaux said.

The land values reflect the changing economic situations of regions and are based on factors including “property market survey, the timing of the last valuation and consultation with local governments and industry,” Qld valuer-general Laura Dietrich said.

Ms Dietrich said they had commenced consultation with stakeholders, including councils, as part of a procedure they do every year and “engages in significant market research, to ensure that all market evidence is considered when finalising valuations”.

“We interpret the market but do not set it,” she said.

See the full list of 2023 Gympie region valuations below.