Massive Gold Coast land value hikes shock property owners

Land valuations across the Gold Coast hinterland have increased by up to 500 per cent leaving shocked property owners facing a massive spike in their council rate bill.

LAND valuations across the Gold Coast Hinterland have increased by up to 500 per cent leaving shocked property owners facing a massive spike in their council rate bill.

Valuation forms show a property of more than 80ha at the Numinbah Valley valued at $270,000 in October 2017 was now judged to be worth $1.35 million.

State MP Ros Bates — concerned about valuations. Picture Mike Batterham.

A Gilston property owner, who has a 67ha lot, similarly received a previous valuation of $275,000 will have to pay rates on land deemed to be worth $1.6 million.

The Bulletin understands the properties had previously been valued as rural production lots but were in the recent valuations considered “lifestyle acquisitions” for people wanting a tree change experience.

In a letter to Natural Resources Minister Dr Anthony Lynham asking him to justify the increases, Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates wrote: “In some instances there have been increases of 500 per cent which is an enormous and unprecedented spike and a complete shock for my local property owners.

Faust Family Park, Numinbah Valley. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

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“This will triple ratepayer costs on many of these properties, making them completely unaffordable especially during this time.”

Ms Bates said residents who had contacted her office either had farms or acreage around Numinbah, Springbrook and Gilston, and were not wealthy investors.

“This is obviously a money grab (by the government). These are not wealthy people. Their money is in their land.”

Dr Lynham’s office told the Bulletin that land valuations were undertaken by the Valuer General and Minister had no role.

Minister Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Dr Anthony Lynham.

Property owners could provide submissions objecting to their valuations, and the Valuer General had recently extended the deadline, the Bulletin was told.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer said he had forwarded a complaint to council’s property rate department explaining the valuations were “out of the ordinary”.

Cn Glenn Tozer said the valuations “were out of the ordinary”. Picture: Jerad Williams

“My view is that sort of property valuation increase is unreasonable and as a council we will need to make sure we can do what we can to mitigate the impact – or the land office valuation office to restructure or reconsider their valuation,” he said.

Queensland Valuer General Neil Bray said it was important for residents living in the city to understand their rates were set by the council.

2325 Nerang Murwillumbah Rd, Numinbah Valley.

“Land valuations is one of many factors councils take into account when framing their annual budgets and determining rates. Since 2018 land valuations in the GCCC area have increased by 4.8 per cent overall,” he said.

“Landowners who believed their valuation was incorrect, and could provide supporting information, should lodge their objection online or at the address shown at the top of their valuation notice by 5 May 2020.”

Landowners can access the latest valuation data using the Land Valuations website at www.qld.gov.au/landvaluation — and compare their valuations with others in their area.