Concerns a loophole may allow some Shoalwater Bay land users to dodge paying rates

A Central Queensland council is gunning for answers after fresh concerns emerged about what the Department of Defence is doing with land it acquired to expand the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area.

Fresh concerns have emerged that a loophole may allow some Shoalwater Bay land users to avoid paying rates to Livingstone Shire Council.

Councillor Nigel Hutton has identified what he sees as a potential problem, and with backing from all of his councillor colleagues, Livingstone is now gunning for answers.

In the firing line is the Australian Department of Defence.

Cr Hutton says some of the land acquired by the Department of Defence for “future use” as part of an expansion of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, has been leased back to landholders who previously contributed rates as members of the Livingstone Shire community.

“While ownership of the land has changed, the use has not, nor has the impact on the broader community,” Cr Hutton said.

“It would be a fair expectation that land which has not changed in use (i.e. it isn’t being used for federal purposes, but continuing with existing rural use) should not be excluded from forms of local taxation.

“It is within the power of the landowner (Australian Government) to ensure that leases are lodged.”

Cr Nigel Hutton.

Cr Hutton’s motion that Livingstone write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Defence Richard Marles seeking their expedited lodgement of leases for lands acquired (and leased back to private land holders) for the expansion of Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, was carried unanimously at the council’s August meeting.

“So ultimately we have a series of parcels of land up north which have been acquired as part of the growth of the Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area, however due to lags in requirement, they’re not being used for military purposes presently,” Cr Hutton said.

“So they’re currently being leased back to the exact same landholder who was using it for an agricultural purpose last year, and probably will be using it for the same agricultural purpose next year.

“In those conditions, I think it’s only fair that the same farmer that last year would have paid rates for the contribution that they make for that land, should be able to pay a contribution for that use of that land.

“When land is used for defence purposes, I fully accept that the Defence Department does not pay rates as it is part of the national government, I get that, I fully accept it.

“But where we have an existing use that’s continued, but simply the landholder has changed … I’m not sure that the argument would be that that is fair, that the contribution ceases in terms of contribution of rates to the shire.”

Two Australian Army lieutenants in action at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Central Queensland.

Cr Hutton said until leases were lodged with the Queensland Government, no rates could be levied on those properties.

Cr Glenda Mather supported Cr Huton’s push.

“We seem to be having to extract information of this kind, rather than be given it freely,” Cr Mather said.

“I think we deserve some answers in relation to what’s going on in our backyard, and I think it’s time that the governments recognised that.”

Cr Pat Eastwood called for “fairness”.

“I just think it’s a fair thing that when the continuity of the use of the land remains the same as it was prior to the purchase by the Defence Force, that something should be coming to the shire like ours, which is such a small shire,” he said.

“We need all of the rateable property we can get and it’s just a fair thing.

“And we need to make sure that these leases get lodged and that we do receive some sort of payment in the form of rates from these communities.”

Cr Andrea Friend said she had “two words” for Cr Hutton who brought this issue to the council table: “Well done.”

“We all need to get behind this,” Cr Friend added.

Cr Adam Belot also congratulated Cr Hutton for his initiative.