Rates information
Rate notices are issued half-yearly, in January/February for billing period 1 January to 30 June and in July/August for billing period 1 July to 31 December each year.
Charges that may appear on your Notice
- General Rates
- Calculating the General Rate
- Water access charges
- Water consumption tariffs
- Sewerage charges
- Refuse service charges
- Refuse management
- Natural Environment Levy
- Road Improvement Levy
- Fire Levy
- City Heart Management Special Rate
Additional information about Rates
- how to pay
- early payment incentives
- payment difficulties
- Pensioner concessions
- Conservation Rebate
- remissions for non-profit community organisations
General Rates
The amount of the rate bill will vary from one property to another and between residential and non-residential property. Council is required by law to levy a general rate on all rateable property within the city.
The rates paid by property owners allow Mackay Regional Council to provide a wide range of services to the community for now and into the future. The General Rate funds all the operational and capital requirements of Council that are not funded through separate charges or government subsidies. This includes:
- provision of public health
- road construction and maintenance
- provision of parks and gardens
- library services
- beach protection
- operation and maintenance of Council properties
- operation of public conveniences
- contributions to various community organisations
- street lighting
- immunisation
- provision and maintenance of community halls
Calculating the General Rate
The amount of general rate you pay is based on the Unimproved Capital Value (UCV) of the land coupled with the rating category assigned to your property.
The Department of Natural Resources and Water are responsible for determining the unimproved value for each property. Council has identified nine rating categories and are responsible for setting the rate in the dollar that is to apply to each particular rating category and a minimum general rate for each category.
This ‘differential rating system’ endeavours to provide a fair and equitable arrangement for all property owners because it applies different rates in the dollar of valuations to commercial, industrial and rural properties to reflect the resources that are required in catering for those types of properties.
Water Access charges
Mackay Regional Council is responsible for providing water and sewerage infrastructure for existing and future users of these services. When calculating water charges, all properties are allocated a factor or multiplication rate of between 1 and 300 dependent on the land use and in accordance with Council’s Budget Resolution. The majority of residential buildings are allocated one factor. Vacant land is allocated one factor. This factor is referred to as the Water Access Charge.
Water Consumption tafiffs
To promote water awareness and equalise the metered water bill, water tariffs are allocated to each half-yearly billing period.
The following tariffs are effective from the final reading billed in the previous financial year.
- Tariff 1 0-150 kilolitres per half year $0.95/kl
- Tariff 2 Over 150 kilolitres per half year $1.30/kl
Sewerage
In general, sewerage factors are based on the number of sewerage pedestals or length of urinal cisterns installed on the premises. On vacant land, one factor charge is allocated per separately surveyed allotment. Single occupation residences have a maximum of one pedestal charge.
Refuse Service charges
Council’s contractors provide each residential property with one 240-litre general waste wheelie bin and one 240-litre yellow-lidded recyclables wheelie bin.
Weekly services are provided for general waste collection, a fortnightly service is provided for recyclables collection. Recyclable products are sorted at Council’s Materials Recovery Facility and forwarded to appropriate recycling markets.
The refuse service charge contributes towards the provision of these services and is applied to each house, group title unit, flat or granny flat whether the premises are occupied or not.
Refuse Management
This charge is applied to each property and contributes towards the cost of providing waste disposal facilities, transfer stations, green waste, resource recovery services, development of new waste facilities, closure and management of redundant landfills, and environmental monitoring of operating and closed landfill sites.
Gate fees paid at waste disposal facilities also contribute towards the provision of the above services.
Natural Environment Levy
The Natural Environment Levy funds environmental education and protection activities.
Road Improvement Levy
Fire Levies
Rural Fire Levy
Council recognises the Rural Fire Brigade Service as an activity that warrants support. As a result, it has determined that, in those Rural Fire Brigade areas where an active brigade has requested support, a Rural Fire Levy Charge will be levied on property owners within the boundaries of the Brigade area. These funds are collected and disbursed to the individual brigades to assist with capital purchases required for support equipment.
Fire Brigade Levy
By State Legislation, councils in Queensland are required to levy and collect a charge to fund the provision of urban fire services within defined boundaries in their areas of responsibility. The levy is based on property use, with higher-density land uses attracting higher levies. Owners of vacant land are also required to contribute at the minimum levy charge.
City Heart Management Special Rate
Council levies a special rate to assist with the promotion and management of the City Heart area. The levy is charged to the benefited properties within the City Heart. Three different areas have been identified and different rates are levied for each.
Early payment incentives
Any ratepayer who pays their rate levy and any arrears of rates and charges by the due date (which is 30 clear days after the issue date) is entitled to a 10 per cent discount on the current Council charges.
The discount is applied to:
- Differential General Rates
- Special Rates City Heart Management
- Water Utility Charges (excluding water meter accounts)
- Sewerage and Cleansing Utility Charges
In addition, Council offers those non-corporate residential ratepayers, who pay all their rates owing within 14 days of the issue date the chance to participate in an Early Bird Prize Draw. This initiative offers three separate $500 shopping voucher prizes. View payment options.
Payment difficulties
If customers cannot afford to pay their rates they should wait until they have received their rates notice, and then contact Council’s Customer Service Centre to make arrangements to pay the amount off. It is recommended customers complete a Payment Schedule Application (PDF 104kb) form.
Council will accept any reasonable amount in weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments to have them fully paid by the time the next notice is issued. Advance payments can be paid without making any special arrangements.
Council also operates a Rates Relief Policy (PDF 69.3kb) to assist ratepayers on low incomes such as aged pensioners and Non Profit Community Based Organisations. Applicants requesting assistance with the payment of their rates and charges must be able to show that the payment of the full amount owed would entail serious hardship. The application of this relief will be dependent on the ratepayer entering into a payment schedule that will clear the overdue rates and any accruing rates within two years of the date of the agreement.
Pensioner Concession
Holders of a Queensland “Pension Concession Card” issued by Centrelink on behalf of the Department of Family and Community Services or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, or a Queensland “Repatriation Health Card – For All Conditions” (Gold Card) issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs are eligible for a concession on the rates applicable to their principal place of residence provided they either own or part-own the property.
The state government provides a rebate of 20 per cent of all charges to a maximum of $180 per annum and Council provides a rebate of 50 per cent of the general rate to a maximum of $180 per annum. In addition, State Fire Services provides a rebate of 20 per cent of the Fire Levy Group 2 application to dwellings. Part owners may only be entitled to part-rebates.
Eligible pensioners will be required to complete an application form (PDF 108kb) to initially apply for the rebate and each year Council will verify their entitlement with the relevant Government Department. Fresh applications will only be required if the pensioner status is not confirmed by the Department.
Pensioners are also granted an extended date to pay their rates and claim their discount entitlement. This date will be shown on their rate notice and will be towards the end of each half-year period. Payments can be made either in instalments or as a lump sum.
Conservation Rebate
Council provides relief to ratepayers who enter into an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to preserve areas within their holdings which are accepted by that Department as areas of conservation significance. Enquiries relating to this rebate should be made at Council’s Customer Service Centre.
Remissions for non-profit community organisations
Council recognises the contribution made by community organisations and has the capacity to provide a rebate to these appropriate organisations. An application for the rebate has to be lodged every three years and is subject to a number of conditions. Contact Council to obtain an application form.
Payment options
Council offers the following options for payment of rates:
- BPay – contact your financial institution to make payment from your nominated account and quote the Biller Code and your council account number contained on your rate notice
- Phone – credit card payments are available 24 hours a day using Bankcard, Mastercard or Visa by calling 1300 307 955. Quote your council payment reference number and key in the amount to be paid
- In person – present your rate notice intact to any branch of Australia Post, at participating Bill Express Newsagencies or to Council’s Offices at Gordon Street (between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday) or to Gordon White Library, Mt Pleasant (until 5pm Monday to Friday and normal operating hours on Saturday). EFTPOS is available at both locations
- Mail – tear off the slip at the bottom of the rate notice and email with a cheque made payable to Mackay Regional Council, PO Box 41, Mackay Qld 4740. Payment should be mailed in sufficient time to qualify for discount
- Internet – make a payment with a credit card over the internet
- Direct Debit – arrangements can be made with Council to pay this account by direct debiting a cheque or card-operated savings account. Direct Debit application (PDF 27kb)