Gympie rates up 54 per cent in two decades

Struggling ratepayers who feel their bills are out of control may have point, with the city’s residential rates bills skyrocketing in the past 20 years.

Gympie’s average residential rates bill has soared by 54 per cent since 2003, accounting for inflation.

Twenty years can make a world of difference, and it has for ratepayers’ wallets, with Gympie residential rates soaring by 54 per cent since 2003.

In 2003, Gympie ratepayers were paying $1282 on their rates bill after the 10 per cent discount was applied for those who paid by the due date; the equivalent of $1885 in today’s dollars.

By 2020 ratepayers were paying $2919 after the discount.

The largest change came about during amalgamation. Between 2007 and 2010 the average rates bill, after the discount, jumped 39 per cent.

In the decade since then, the average general rate on a residential property has risen by 16 per cent (inflation included).

But it was not the only factor at play.

The price of water has wreaked havoc on rates bills also.

In 2003, the average residential water charge was $277 (about $407 in today’s money); it was $629 in 2020, up 36 per cent.

A big part of the rates hike happened around the 2008 council amalgamations.

Sewerage connection charges jumped only slightly less. In 2003, residents were paying $339 for their connection (about $498).

That figure rose 32 per cent by 2020, now costing ratepayers $682.

Former Gympie City and Cooloola Shire mayor Mick Venardos said he was unsurprised by the impact of amalgamation.

Mr Venardos said the 2008 decision forced the council to take responsibility for a significant amount of infrastructure, but only a small number of new ratepayers.

It hurt those “weaker” absorbed councils, as they were surviving on government grants and funding, he said.

“Amalgamation has been a complete and utter failure for Queensland,” Mr Venardos said.

Former Gympie City and Cooloola Shire mayor Mick Venardos says he is concerned ratepayers’ ability to pay their rates and maintain their standard of living has been outpaced.

To illustrate this you need look no further than the Gympie council’s financial situation.

“Cooloola was … ranked number one in Queensland in financial sustainability,” Mr Venardos said.

“It could survive any huge financial impact for 10 years.”

He was concerned the increase had outstripped residents’ ability to pay it and maintain their standard of living, and said councils needed to ensure they were not forcing ratepayers to cover things “not absolutely necessary”.

He pointed to the $3 million Mary St upgrade - “it looks beautiful, but does it do the job it needs to do?” -and the controversial and costly resurrection of the Rattler, which he said had cost the council about $30 million so far.

“People are concerned with the longevity of the Rattler and the ongoing costs,” Mr Venardos said.

“This current council has a tremendously hard job to bring the rates back to CPI, which they are endeavouring to do.”

Originally published as Gympie rates up 54 per cent in two decades