Revealed: The Gold Coast suburbs which owe the most rates
Gold Coast residents owe more than $100 million in rates, with many property owners not having paid a cent in more than three years. SEE HOW YOUR AREA COMPARES
Gold Coast
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GOLD Coast homeowners owe more than $100 million in rates as the financial hardships of COVID-19 take a toll.
Council sent letters out to 141 owners whose rates had not been paid for more than three years.
The worst payers were in Division 6 – covering Southport and Ashmore – where almost $484,000 was outstanding for three years of more.
Other divisions with the high amounts of overdue rates included Carrara (Division 8, $193,822), Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach (Division 10, $185,463), Coombabah and Biggera Waters (Division 4, $181,134) and Nerang and Pacific Pines (Division 5, $143,547).
Councillors at a closed session considered an overdue rates report which confirmed council stalled its rate recovery plans in March last year.
The value of payment arrangements between residents and council had increased by 35 per cent between March and June last year, the report said.
In the September quarter, the amount of outstanding rates had blown out to almost $130 million, up from about $123 million for the previous year.
Unpaid rates to southeast Queensland councils has reached almost $200 million with the Gold Coast one of the worst performers.
A council spokesperson said the city, as of January 15, had $106 million outstanding in respect of rate and water accounts.
“However, the amount of $60 million is overdue. Overdue rates are defined as those past their respective due date and not subject to a council-approved repayment scheme,” the spokesperson said.
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Council officers had predicted a reduction in overdue rates if a second wave of COVID-19 restrictions failed to occur.
“The removal of the JobKeeper subsidy in March 2021 or reductions in JobKeeper and the JobSeeker benefit would be detrimental to the potential reduction in rate, water and sundry debts,” the council report said.
A council spokesperson said the city would provide support to ratepayers experiencing financial hardship by allowing them to enter an approved repayment scheme.
“This support is not expected to impact on service levels or capital works projects already in the pipeline,” the spokesperson said.
Of the 141 owners of properties with three years of outstanding debts, at least 48 remain “active” with the remainder fully paid and the sale of land action being ceased.
Asked about the impact on council finances, the spokesperson replied: “The increase rate arrears is not expected to have a material impact upon council’s budget. Council is not considering reducing frontline services or capital works in its 2021-22.”
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