Rates and Charges Explained
General Rates
General Rates revenue provides essential whole of community services not funded through trading income, subsidies, grants, contributions, donations received from other entities, or not provided for by other levies or charges. Council will consider all full cost recovery options before calculating the general rate.
Council is required to raise an amount of revenue it sees as being appropriate to maintain assets and provide services to the region as a whole. In deciding how that revenue is raised, Council has formed the opinion that a differential general rating scheme, based primarily on land use, provides the most equitable basis for the distribution of the general rate burden.
The rateable value for each property is the basis for determining the amount of the general rate levied. The value of land for a financial year is its value under the Land Valuation Act when a liability for payment of rates or charges for the land arises for the financial year.
To view or download the Budget Resolutions 2024-2025, please follow these links:
Waste And Recycling Collection Charges
For the 12 months ending 30 June 2025, waste and recycling collection charges will be made and levied as follows:
Charges shall apply to all lands and/or premises within Council's Serviced Area (where waste services are made available).
A pro-rata charge effective from the date of:
- valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year; or
- commencement will apply for additional services or new First Services
Residential:
First service: $354.00 per annum. The First Service consists of one x 240 litre waste bin collected on a weekly basis and one x 240 litre recycle bin collected fortnightly and applies to all properties serviced by Council's waste collection contractor in accordance with their contract with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
Extra services: Additional services may be available upon application to Council. Additional services consist only of additional bins which will be collected on the normal service day of the property concerned. Council will not provide additional services to the property on any other day.
Charges for additional services:
- Dual bins: $354.00 per annum
- Additional Waste Bin collected weekly: $222.00 per annum
- Additional Recycling Bin collected fortnightly: $132.00 per annum
Commercial:
First service: $604.00 per annum. The First Service consists of one x 240 litre waste bin collected on a weekly basis and one x 240 litre recycle bin collected fortnightly and applies to all commercial properties serviced by Council's waste collection contractor in accordance with their contract with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.
Extra services (normal collection day): Extra services collected on the normal collection day are available for commercial premises by applying to Council. The extra services can be any combination of the following.
Extra waste bin: $413.00 per bin / per collection / per annum
Extra recycling bin collected fortnightly: $191.00 per bin / per collection / per annum on the normal collection day.
Additional waste service (alternative day): Additional services for the collection of waste only on an alternative day to the proposed Standard Collection Service day are available for commercial premises, by applying to Council.
These services are subject to confirmation by the contractor and must not be more frequent than:
- Five days per week for Gatton and Laidley;
- Three days per week for Withcott; and
- One day per week for areas outside of the above.
Service Cancellations and Suspensions
Council has resolved that the whole of the Lockyer Valley Region is in the Serviced Area and therefore cancellations and suspensions of First Services are not permitted except in the cases of:
- Demolition of premises: upon certification by an approved person; or
- The premises that will be vacant for a full year. Council requires a Statutory Declaration to be provided.
Permitted cancellations as above or cancellation of additional services must be made in the form required by Council and a pro rata adjustment from the date of service cancellation or suspension will be allowed.
Bins remain the property of Lockyer Valley Regional Council's waste collection contractor and are provided to be used specifically for the storage of waste and recycling materials only.
Waste Management Facilities
For the 12 months ending 30 June 2025, a Separate Charge - Waste Management of $182.00 per annum per assessment will be levied on all land in the region with the exception of:
- Properties in Differential Rating Category 36;
- Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies; and
- Non-rateable land to which a waste collection service is not provided.
The proceeds from the separate charge shall be applied to fund recurrent and capital expenditure and the administration costs associated with the provision, improvement and management of Council's waste management facilities throughout the region. Waste management facilities include landfill sites, transfer stations, weighbridge and waste bins located throughout the region.
A pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year.
Rural Fire Levy
For the twelve months ending 30 June 2025, a special charge of $30.00 per annum per assessment will be made and levied on all rateable properties which are in an area serviced by a Rural Fire Brigade with the exception of:
(a) Properties in Differential Rating Category 36; and
(b) Mining leases valued separately to the land over which the lease applies.
All such lands are deemed to benefit from this charge as a result of the Rural Fire Brigade Group operating in the area. This special charge shall continue to apply for the 2024-2025 year regardless of any levies that may be introduced by State or Federal Governments.
This Special Charge is levied for the maintenance of fire trails within the Lockyer Valley Council Region and to provide for the operations, maintenance and provision of buildings, land and/or equipment for Rural Fire Brigade groups in accordance with agreements between Council and the Lockyer Local Area Finance Committee.
A pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year.
Emergency Management, Fire and Rescue Levy
Charged per parcel for those within the State Fire Boundary. Councils throughout Queensland collect this Levy on behalf of the Queensland State Government. The charge in determined by the Queensland State Government.
Emergency Preparedness Levy
Pursuant to section 94(1)(b)(iii) of the Local Government Act for the twelve months ending 30 June 2025, a separate charge of $104.00 per assessment will be made and levied on all rateable land within the region.
This separate charge is levied to fund infrastructure restoration projects (such as bridges, roads) funding shortfalls, interest and redemption payments on loans associated with recovery work and community resilience recovery through agreed community recovery programs.
The proceeds from the separate charge shall also be applied to fund expenditure on the disaster management initiatives associated with improving the region's preparedness for and response to future natural disasters, including the implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.
Furthermore, the proceeds from the separate charge shall be applied to fund recurrent and capital expenditure for the Volunteer State Emergency Services Units operating within the Lockyer Valley Regional Council area together with the provision of disaster planning and management support for the units
A pro-rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year.
Limited Increases
Council has not made a resolution limiting an increase in rates and charges.
Environmental Levy
Pursuant to Section 94(1)(b)(iii) of the Local Government Act 2009 and section 103 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, Council has decided for the 2024/2025 financial year, to make and levy a separate charge (to be known as the Environmental Levy) in the sum of $17.00 per rateable assessment, equally on all rateable land within the region. The Environmental Levy is levied to fund expenditure on the implementation of physical/biological, cultural, social and economic environmental initiatives throughout the region.
A pro‐rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year.
Resilient Rivers Initiative Levy
Pursuant to Section 94(1)(b)(iii) of the Local Government Act 2009 and section 103 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, Council has decided for the 2024/2025 financial year, to make and levy a separate charge (to be known as the Resilient Rivers Initiative Levy) in the sum of $2.00 per assessment, equally on all rateable land within the region.
The Resilient Rivers Initiative Levy is levied to fund Council’s contribution for the Council of Mayors South East Queensland's Resilient Rivers Initiative, which will deliver projects to keep soil on the land, protect water security, promote partnerships and improve climate resilience.
A pro‐rata charge effective from the date of valuation will apply to new assessments created during the financial year
