As a property owner in the Lockyer Valley, you are required to pay rates to Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
The money collected from your rates enables Council to provide a wide range of community services and facilities such as roads, parks, libraries, recreation and sporting facilities.
Payment Commitment and Direct Debit Increase Letters
Council has sent out letters to rate payers with a current Payment Commitment and/or Direct Debit in place to increase their commitment to comply with Council’s current debt recovery policy.
A copy of the completed payment commitment and direct debit form will be included for ratepayers to confirm, complete and return back to Council on or before Monday 27 May 2013.
If a rate payer is unable to increase their payment commitment or direct debit we recommend you contact Council in writing (post, email or fax) with your circumstances and a time frame of when you will begin the new payments.
Rate payers who do not return their form or contact Council in writing will be sent onto Council’s collection agent for further debt recovery action.
Current & New Payment Commitments
Council has changed their procedure for new payment commitments as of the 22 April 2013. A Rates Payment Commitment Form or an email will be required if a rate payer wishes to enter into a payment commitment to clear their rate arrears. Council will not accept payment arrangements over the telephone.
On a fortnightly basis from 30 April 2013, all existing and future payment commitments will be reviewed and following these reviews upon:
The first payment default
A Payment Commitment First Notice of Default letter will be issued to the ratepayer, advising that the commitment has been dishonoured, the over due amount and the next payment commitment due date.
The second and final default
The payment commitment will be removed from Council’s rate assessment and the debt forwarded to Council’s external debt recovery agency without further notice to the ratepayer.
Council encourages rate payers to contact Council prior to the due date if they are unable to make a payment.
Please also note: Council’s current Rates and Charges Debt Collection and Recovery Policy requires that all outstanding and current rates and charges be paid in full within twelve months of a ratepayer making a payment commitment with Council.
Recoveries & Reconstruction (Aust) Pty Ltd Demand Letter
Council’s Debt Recovery Agent Recoveries & Reconstruction (Aust) Pty Ltd will be forwarding demand letters to Rate Payers who have outstanding rates and have not entered into a written payment commitment. These letters were posted on the 9 May 2013. If you are in receipt of this letter we encourage you to contact Recoveries & Reconstruction (Aust) Pty Ltd without delay on 1300 556 863.
Please note Council staff can only accept full payment of your outstanding rates at this point. All enquiries must be directed to Recoveries & Reconstruction (Aust) Pty Ltd as Council staff are unable to discuss this matter with you.
Rates Flood Disaster Due Date Extension
Lockyer Valley Regional Council is writing to flood affected property owners offering a deferral of their rates payment as one way to relieve some of the financial pressure felt by ratepayers affected by the recent flood event.
Council is offering a deferral of:
- 90 days for residential properties - 20 May 2013
- 90 days for income bearing properties - 20 May 2013
- 90 days for agricultural cropping land - 20 May 2013
Council will be writing to residential and income bearing properties to inform them of the further extension to the 20 May 2013.
Notice of Proposed Legal Action letter
Notice of Proposed Legal Action letters were mailed on 18 April 2013. If you are in receipt of this letter we encourage you to contact Council without delay to commence a payment commitment to clear your rate arrears within the terms of Council’s Rates and Charges Debt Recovery and Collection Policy. A copy of this policy can be accessed here
Ratepayers who have not paid in full or contacted Council to make a payment commitment within the timeframe set out in the letter will be forwarded to Council’s Debt Recovery Agent.
Annual Land Valuation
Annual land valuations have been conducted by the Queensland State Government and will be on display at the Laidley and Gatton Customer Service Centres from Wednesday 20 March to Tuesday 18 June 2013.
Ratepayers, who do not agree with their valuation, and can supply information to support their claim, may lodge an objection with The Department of Natural Resources & Mines by the 20 May 2013.
You may lodge your objection online, by going to the Department of Natural Resources & Mines website www.dnrm.qld.gov.au.
Please ensure you have read the relevant objection guide prior to starting your application.
If you do not have internet access, hard copies of the objection guides which include the relevant forms can be obtained from Department of Natural Resources & Mine business centres or by telephoning 1300 664 217.
For further information, please contact the Department of Natural Resources & Mines by one of the methods below:
Website http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/
Visiting a Department of Natural Resources & Mines business centre
Telephoning 1300 664 217 (8 am–5 pm Monday to Friday) until 20 May 2013
Rate Notices were issued 19th January 2013
All notices for the rating period 01 January 2013 to 30 June 2013 were issued on Saturday 19th January 2013.
The due date for payment is Monday 18th February 2013.
Any ratepayer who has not received their rates notice by Monday 28th January 2013, should contact Council’s Rates Team as soon as possible to obtain a copy so that they can benefit from the discount available. To be eligible to claim the discount, payment of the net amount must be received by Council on or before the close of business Monday 18th February 2013 (the due date)
If you have changed your postal or email address provided for service of notice and have not notified Council, please do so NOW.
Ratepayers are obliged to notify Council of their change of address for service of notice in writing. Having a mail re-direction or verbal communication with Council will not be sufficient notice to Council.
When the Rates Team has been advised of your change of address in writing they will endeavour to provide you with a replacement copy of your Rates Notice, by the quickest means possible so that you may pay your rates by the due date and benefit from the discount available.
You can contact Council’s rates team by the following methods:
- Email: rates@lvrc.qld.gov.au
- Phone 1300 005 872.
- Visit one of Council’s customer service centres in Laidley or Gatton
If you are having difficulty paying your rates, please contact Council before the due date to discuss payment options. Failure to pay in full by the due date or to enter into a payment commitment with Council may result in debt recovery action.
Discount will not be allowed on payments received by Council after the close of business Monday 18th February 2013 (the due date)
Council’s Budget Resolution
Council adopted its Annual Budget for the financial year 2012-2013 on the 30 July 2012.
Council’s Budget Resolution [PDF: 4.3MB]
Urgent Rate Search Now Available
Council now have a new rate search available. The new form can be found above (Property Search Request Form) or under Forms. Fees have now changed to the following: A standard rate search will cost $140.00 for a 5 business day turn around and an urgent search will cost $200.00 with a 1 business day turn around.
Property Search Request Form [PDF: 88KB]
Important Changes to Note
Interest now applies from day after discount date and
Pension subsidies have changed. A letter has been sent to rate payers who have a Newstart Allowance and those who are in arrears.
For more information click here: Discounts and subsidies
Council may charge a fee for payments made by credit card.
Payment Options
Direct Debit Payment Facilities
Direct Debit payment deductions are available for payment of weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or full amount on due date from your nominated bank account. Please contact either of Council’s Customer Service Centres Gatton or Laidley or download a Direct Debit Authority form from Council’s website should you wish to use this facility.
B-Pay
B-Pay is available through your bank. The B-Pay Code and Payment Reference number will be available on the back of your current rate notice. Please contact your participating financial institution to make payment from your cheque, savings or credit account.
Australia Post – Billpay
Billpay through Australia Post allows you to pay in person at any post office, phone 13 18 16 or go to www.postbillpay.com.au. Your Billpay Code and Payment Reference can be found on the back of your current rate notice.
Credit Card
Payment via credit card can be made by calling 13 18 16. Payments can be made by Visa or Mastercard only.
* Council may charge a fee for payments made by credit card.
A cheque or money order can be mailed into Council along with the payment slip on the bottom of your current rates notice payable to:
Lockyer Valley Regional Council
PO Box 82
GATTON QLD 4343
Council Office
Payment can be made in person at one of Council Customer Service Centres in Gatton or Laidley by cash, cheque, money order, EFTPOS, Mastercard or Visa.
* Council may charge a fee for payment by credit card.
Discount & Pension
Discount
Discount of 5% will be allowed if payment of all rates and charges and interest including any arrears are paid prior to or on the due date.
State Government and Council Pension Subsidies
Land owners holding a current ‘Pension Concession Card’ issued by Centrelink or a ‘Repatriation Health Card – For All Conditions’ issued by the State Department of Veterans Affairs may be entitled to Pension Subsidies on their Rates and Charges. If you believe you may be eligible for this subsidy and are not yet receiving it on your rates, please contact Council to obtain an application form.
Pension Subsidies may be available on your Rates
The three different subsidies available for pensioners on their rates include:
- State Government Rate Subsidy
- State Fire Levy Subsidy
- Council Rate Subsidy
If you are a pensioner and live in your own home, you may be eligible to receive these subsidies. Application forms are available from Council’s Administration Offices or by download or here
Applications approved after this date will receive an adjustment after the issue of their rate notice.
If you have previously received these subsidies on your rates, you do not need to re-apply, unless Council contacts you for confirmation of your entitlements.
For more information please see Discounts and subsidies
Rate Enquiries
If you have any queries regarding your current rate notice and/or have any questions, please refer to our Frequently asked questions section - Frequently Asked Questions
If you are unable to find what you are looking for, please contact Council via:
Email: rates@lvrc.qld.gov.au
Phone: 1300 005 872
Writing: Lockyer Valley Regional Council
Attn: Rates
PO Box 82
GATTON QLD 4343