SEQ councils ranked: Redland tops list as most expensive in 2024/25
Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba homeowners have the cheapest rates and water bill deals in southeast Queensland, while a bayside council has topped the list as the most expensive. COMPARE YOUR BILL HERE
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Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba homeowners can look forward to the cheapest rates and water bill deals in southeast Queensland for 2024-2025.
The three councils topped a list of 11 southeast councils for the cheapest rates and services bills.
A typical Brisbane owner-occupier ratepayer would pay $3311 in rates, bin collection services and water and sewerage charges this financial year.
That was almost $1000 cheaper than owner occupiers in Redlands, less than 40km to the east, where a typical ratepayer will pay $4268, the highest fees and charges across the councils surveyed, even outstripping ritzy Noosa and Gold Coast councils.
Redland, climbed to the top as the most expensive after posting the region’s highest bin charges of $563.40 for the 240l red and yellow bins, even though residential ratepayers have free use of the city’s tips.
The bayside city also does not offer an early payment discount to residential ratepayers, unlike other councils including Logan, which this year slashed its generous discount and replaced it with a flat $120 rebate.
The bayside city will also charge its residential ratepayers $873 in sewerage charges, the highest across the region while Toowoomba ratepayers will pay only $532 this year.
Scenic Rim and Logan ratepayers will be slugged the most in other fees and charges, with Logan taxing a typical ratepayer an extra $548.44 in extra charges which included a $445.40 community levy charge and $101.40 environmental levy.
Logan ratepayers also faced the highest percentage increase in general rates charges, 8 per cent this year, which equated to the highest dollar rise — $85.48.
A typical Redland household using an average 180 kilolitres of water a yea, will be charged about $468.48, more than a similar family in Ipswich where the average annual water bill would be closer to $409.98, but less than Logan’s average bill of $505.14.
After Redland, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, Logan and the Gold Coast will charge the most expensive council fees and charges this financial year.
Demographic expert and founder of online data bank Suburbtrends Kent Lardner said the best cities in southeast Queensland to get “bang for your buck” were Logan and Ipswich.
At the other end of the scale, the Gold Coast, Noosa, and Sunshine Coast had the “double whammy” of both high real estate prices and high rates, he said.
“Redland and Toowoomba feature higher general rates, while areas such as Logan Central ($585,000) offer lower costs to buy a property, potentially providing better value for residents,” Mr Lardner said.
“Overall, Brisbane has a high average house price of $1,269,009 with moderate council rates of $1738 which balances cost with metropolitan benefits, making it a reasonable benchmark.
“Ipswich has lower house prices with an average cost of $643,489 with lower council rates of $1408, making it attractive for those looking for affordability.
“The Gold Coast has a high average house price of $1,273,446 and one of the higher council rates charges at $1950, reflecting its coastal appeal and amenities.
“Noosa is even higher with the average house price coming in at Noosa $1,443,032 along with high council rates of $1,932, reflecting its premium lifestyle status.
“So for those seeking the best bang for their buck, Logan emerges as an affordable option with lower land prices and comparative rates.”
Mr Lardner equated the higher fees and charges in Redland to that city’s low level of units and apartments, creating a lower population density and smaller rates base.
In Redland, only 4 per cent of housing is apartment living with the rest, 49,276, predominantly freestanding houses which require more infrastructure than units.
In Brisbane, 26 per cent of accommodation is apartment living.
Mr Lardner said along with the lack of units, Redland’s rates were traditionally higher due to having to service six island communities.
Somerset Regional Council, which handed down its budget last week, had SEQ’s cheapest rates and services charges in the small council category with a total bill of $3179.90.
REDLAND
Redland ratepayers had a 5 per cent increase in total fees and charges from 2023 with the total bill for a typical owner occupier household the highest in southeast Queensland.
The rise was slated back to the council having to provide infrastructure and services to six island communities, where many roads remain unsealed and parking at ferry terminals is at capacity.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said the figures were from a budget which was a legacy from the former council, with Budget preparations beginning in November 2023 during the previous term of council.
Ms Mitchell said after being sworn in she successfully pushed to bring the budget down to under the forecast 6 per cent rate rise.
“The previous majority council committed to multiple major projects and spending,” she said.
“I was advised by the CEO that the rise of 5.51 per cent for rates was necessary to meet our obligations and maintain the current service delivery to our community.
“There are 11 councillors and all vote equally for budget adoption.
“We have a relatively small ratepayer base for our geographic area, we have limited commercial development, we have six residential island communities to service and the council gives residents free access to recycling and waste centres.
“All councillors considered the previous Christmas expenditure to try and reduce costs to ratepayers by bringing down the total cost from over $400,000.
“Last year, the Christmas by Starlight single night event cost about $300,000 (excluding staff costs, which would make that total higher) and about 6000 people attended.
“That’s a lot of money on one night for a relatively small part of our population.
“It was proposed by officers that a number of smaller events across the city could be provided for less money, including a lighting of the Christmas tree and music event at Raby Bay.”
LOGAN
Logan council said it was the fastest-growing council in Queensland with the population growing 4 per cent last year to 377,000.
About 96 per cent of the city’s 135,000 rateable properties are residential and 84 per cent of owner occupiers will get an annual $120 fixed discount for prompt payment.
The council removed the early payment discount for all other rating categories.
MORETON BAY
Moreton Bay council said its average rate rise for an owner-occupied residential property was 3.8 per cent, which equated to $1.35 extra a week.
The minimum general rate rose from $1149 to $1205 for residential owner-occupied single dwellings, an increase of 4.87 per cent.
But a typical ratepayer will only pay an extra 3 per cent on their total bill of $3778 which includes all fees and charges and water.
Considering Moreton Bay’s financial relief rates concession for owner occupiers on the minimum general rate, the increase was only 0.5 per cent, from $1149 to $1155.
However, Moreton ratepayers have also experienced a rise in their water charges.
Moreton Bay implemented a financial relief rates concession using the sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units generated from methane gas captured at landfill sites.
Rates capping at 9 per cent also spread the impact of large valuations.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the council would give a $50 rates concession to eligible owner-occupied residential properties from July 1.
IPSWICH
Ipswich’s minimum general rate for residential owner-occupiers rose with an average increase of 5.45 per cent.
The council maintained an on-time payment discount of $132 a year, the highest among comparison councils.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said four out of the past five budgets kept expenditures below the rate of inflation of 4 per cent.
She said this year’s average increase for owner-occupiers was an extra $2.58 a week with enhanced pensioner concessions.
Ipswich fees and charges were limited to an average increase of 4.5 per cent.
GOLD COAST
Since 2012, the Gold Coast City Council said every annual rate increase for owner occupiers had been at, or below, CPI.
This year the city had a general rate increase of 4.24 per cent, which was above the national average of 4 per cent.
The city offers rating relief of a generous 10 per cent pay-on-time discount, making it the largest city council in Australia to offer a discount of that size.
Gold Coast pensioners also continue to receive concessions and rebates of up to $270.
BRISBANE
General rates for owner-occupied properties rose 3.8 per cent on average with all fees and charges rising by 4.7 per cent.
The council also again offered Queensland’s most generous pensioner rates rebate scheme with up to a $1248 rebate provided to full pensioners.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the council was taking pressure off household budgets by funding free off-peak travel for seniors on Brisbane buses and ferries, providing generous pensioner rebates and bringing back $2 Summer Dips.
SUNSHINE COAST
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Originally published as SEQ councils ranked: Redland tops list as most expensive in 2024/25
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