North Burnett council could sell 20 properties where rates have not been paid for years

As more and more North Burnett property owners struggle with the cost of living, rates debts are spiralling and the council is on the cusp of moving to selling off those properties in the worst arrears.

20 properties in the North Burnett have not had their rates paid for three or more years and are “likely candidates for sale for unpaid rates”. Source: Lachie Millard

Multiple properties in the North Burnett are in danger of being seized by the council due to unpaid rates.

According to a February 2025 report, 413 properties in the North Burnett have arrears in their rates payments as of January 31, 6.53 per cent of the total number of rateable properties.

Almost 40 per cent of these properties have “acceptable (payment) arrangements” in place.

However, 20 properties have not had their rates paid for three or more years and are “likely candidates for sale for unpaid rates”.

“A sale of land motion for these properties will be presented to a forthcoming council meeting for council’s consideration,” the report said.

As of January, the North Burnett Regional Council had recorded about $131,000 of rates overdue by five or more years.

Mount Perry property owners have the highest number of unpaid rates, with $308,000 in total overdue.

Eidsvold property owners owe $65,000, Monto property owners owe $206,000, Gayndah property owners owe $223,000, and Mundubbera has $217,000 outstanding.

Biggenden property owners have the lowest overdue rates, with just $48,000 outstanding.

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The overdue rates balance this financial year have consistently been higher when compared to the previous year, with data for January showing a 15 per cent increase in debt from the previous January.

The report said the council had sent letters to ratepayers who were in arrears to try to settle the amount in full or to encourage them to enter into a payment plan.

“For those who did not respond to the initial outstanding rates letter, an attempt was made to contact ratepayers directly,” the report said.

“The purpose of this contact was to ensure the ratepayer understood what was required for an acceptable arrangement which would avoid the account progressing to external debt collection.”

According to the Queensland Ombudsman website, local councils are entitled to apply penalty interest to unpaid rates and recover the outstanding amount through legal proceedings, which can include selling the land.

“A council can recover the outstanding amount through legal proceedings,” the Ombudsman said.

“For example, if the rates remain unpaid on land for more than three years, generally council can sell the land.”

Originally published as North Burnett council could sell 20 properties where rates have not been paid for years