Rates & Valuations

Information About Your Rates

Options for the Payment of Rates & Charges

Rates and charges levied during a financial year are a charge on the property and are due and payable as follows:

Annually, by lump sum payment made on or before 15 February, 2013

Four times yearly, by four equal instalments made on or before the following dates:

1st instalment - 30th September, 2012
2nd instalment - 30th November, 2012
3rd instalment - 28th February, 2013
4th instalment - 31st May, 2013

Where the 1st instalment is paid by the 30th September 2012, subsequent reminder notices will be issued for the remaining three instalments.

Method of Payment

POST billpay: Pay in person at any post office, by phone: 13 18 16 or go to http://www.postbillpay.com.au/ (Credit cards are accepted). Refer to the POST billpay reference number on the front of your rates notice.
Bpay: Telephone your participating Bank, Credit Union or Building Society to make this payment directly from your cheque, savings account or credit card. Your Bank may also offer Bpay via internet banking. For more information visit http://www.bpay.com.au/
Direct Debit: Direct Debit is only available for instalment payments. If you elect to pay your rates by Direct Debit, the quarterly instalment amounts will be deducted from your bank account on the dates shown above. Click here to download an application form, or contact Customer Service on (03) 5220 7111.
By Post: Forward either a money order or cheque crossed "Not Negotiable" and payable to Golden Plains Shire Council. In line with common business practice a receipt will not be issued unless requested. Please mail payment to Golden Plains Shire Council, PO Box 111, Bannockburn Vic 3331
Personally: Pay by cash, cheque or EFTPOS (includes Credit Cards) at either of the Customer Services Centres located at:
- 2 Pope Street, Bannockburn: Telephone (03) 5220 7111 Facsimile (03) 5220 7100 Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 8.30am-5.00pm
- 68 Sussex Street, Linton: Telephone (03) 5344 7201 Facsimile (03) 5344 7302 Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 8.30am-12.30pm; 1.00pm-5.00pm
Online at www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au : Select Online Payments listed under Quick Links on the home page or Click here

Late Payments

If in the case of a person paying annually, payment is not made on or before the 15th February, 2013, the amount outstanding will bear interest from 1st July, 2012 at the rate of 10.5% per annum. In the case of a person paying by four instalments, interest on late instalments will be calculated at the rate if 10.5% per annum from the due date of the instalment.
If you are having difficulty paying your rates by the due date, please contact Customer Service to arrange alternative payments. Failure to make contact can lead to legal costs and a poor credit rating.

Change of Address

Property owners and ratepayers of properties are required to notify Council of any changes to their address. This must be done in writing via mail, fax or e-mail. Alternatively you can contact Customer Service to obtain a change of address form, or download one by clicking here.

Non-receipt of rate notices or delays in postal delivery, in many instances, are not the fault of Council and therefore are not considered to be an acceptable excuse for late payment of rates. If a rate notice has not been received by mid September, it may be that no change of address notification has been received.

Revaluations

All rateable properties are valued as at January 2012. State Government legislation requires Council to revalue your property every two years. The reason for this is to maintain equity in the rating system to ensure that all property owners pay their fair share of rates. Revaluations do not generate extra revenue for Council, they are simply a mechanism to redistribute rate revenue across all rateable properties.

Objection to Property Valuation

Any person who desires to object against their valuation, must lodge an objection with Council within two months of the issuing of the rates notice. The grounds for objecting against the valuation are stated on the prescribed form, which can be obtained by contacting Customer Service.

Pension Concession

Under the State Government's Pensioner Rate Assistance Scheme, Council can excuse payment equal to one half of the amount of the current rate, municipal and garbage charges, up to a maximum of $198.00 (2012/2013) per annum. To be eligible for the concession you must:

Hold a current Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pensioner Concession Card, or a DVA Repatriation Health Card specifying 'War Widow'. (Note: Holders of a Health Care Card are not eligible for a concession).
Be a permanent resident of the property for which you are seeking the rebate
Not yet made an application for any other property, or with any other Council during the financial year

To apply for this concession please present your concession card to one of our Customer Service Officers. There is no need to re-apply if we already have your details.

Farm Rate

Council provides a discount in rates of 10 percent, but it only applies to genuine farmers. All properties zoned 'farming' which are larger than 40 hectares are automatically entitled to the discount. Other farmers who have registered with the Australian Tax Office as a 'Primary Producer', but are not on the farm rate can contact Customer Service to request an application form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I pay Rates?

Rates are a property-based tax, not a direct user charge for services received. Local Government has a responsibility to provide access to services and infrastructure for the public benefit of all. The choice not to use services, or the benefits of Council infrastructure, does not remove the expectation that all property owners pay a fair share of rates.

Rates and charges assist in providing a range of services including road construction and maintenance, recreation and community facilities, home and community care, garbage collection, town planning and economic development, just to name a few.

Where do my Rates go?

Within Golden Plains Shire, rates revenue is utilised as follows:

Road & Street Infrastructure - Which includes roads, bridges, footpaths, drainage, street beautification, asset management & street lighting.
Recreation & Community Development - Which includes arts, culture, youth development, libraries, recreation facilities.
Human Support Services - Maternal & child health, children's services, aged & disability services, community transport, community health & health promotion.
Environment & Land Use Planning - Building & planning services, environment & public health management & fire protection.
Civic Leadership - Governance & advocacy, strategic planning, emergency management and occupational health and safety.
Financial Management - Statutory reporting & budgeting, records management, plant replacement & land valuations.
Waste Management - Garbage collection, tips & litter control.
Citizen & Customer Service - Customer service centres, communications & marketing.
Economic Development - Tourism, economic development.

How are my Rates Calculated?

Rates are calculated by multiplying the total value of your property (land plus improvements) which is known as the Capital Improved Value (CIV), by the relevant 'Rate in the Dollar', which is set by Council annually. The rate in the dollar varies according to the type of property. This information can be found on your current rates notice.

Other charges in addition to rates, where applicable;

Municipal Charge of $200
Garbage Charge of $204
State Landfill Levy of $25

What is a Municipal Charge?

The municipal charge is a flat fee of $200 (2012/2013) applicable to all assessments, irrespective of the valuation or type of property. It was introduced to cover part of the administrative costs of operating Council, and to assist with the equitable spread of the rate burden across the whole Shire.

Single farm enterprises with multiple rate assessments are only required to pay one municipal charge per dwelling.

What is a Garbage & Recycling Charge?

This charge covers the cost of collecting and disposing of domestic garbage and recycling from all dwellings within defined garbage collection areas in the Shire. The charge is compulsory for dwellings whether the service is used or not.

What is a State Landfill Levy Charge?

An annual charge of $25 to meet the cost of the State Government's Landfill Levy imposed in relation to the disposal of refuse.

What do the 3 Valuations on my Rate Notice Mean?

The three valuations shown are the Site Value (SV), Capital Improved Value (CIV) and the Net Annual Value (NAV).

Site Value (SV) - The market value of the land only
Capital Improved Value (CIV) - The total market value of the land plus buildings and other improvements
Net Annual Value (NAV) - either 5% of the CIV or the current value of a property net annual rental