Rates & Charges - Overview

New Land Valuations for 2009/2010

In early 2009, the Valuer General supplied Council with new land valuations of all land within the Coffs Harbour local government area.  The valuations have a base date of 1 July 2008 and will be used for rating purposes for a three year period commencing 1 July 2009.

Council's overall valuation base has risen from approximately $5.844 billion to $6.248 billion, an increase of 6.9%.   The land valuation increases (on average) within each rating category are as follows: 

• Residential                   3.96%
• Farmland                   14.08%
• Business                    20.26%
• City Centre Business  40.00%

It is important to note that the new land valuations do not generate a larger Ordinary Rate income.  This is limited by the State Government's 'Rate Pegging', but the new land valuations do change the distribution of this income across the local government area.

Ordinary Rate Increase for 2009/2010

Council's increase in Ordinary Rate income for 2009/2010 is the allowed 3.5% (set by the State Government).  As mentioned above the land valuations used to calculate your Ordinary Rates for 2009/2010 have a base date of 1 July 2008.

Ordinary Rate revenue is a primary source of funding for the provision of Coffs Harbour services, facilities, programs, activities and capital works.

In addition, Councils can levy a 'charge' whereby the amount charged must relate to the service or benefit provided to the customer (i.e. Waste, Water & Sewerage Charges).

For an overview of the Ordinary (General) Rates, Annual Charges and Usage Charges for 2009/2010 please refer to the Rates and Charges 2009/2010 page.

Rating Categories

Your rating category is shown on your Rate Notice.  The basis of rating categorisation is, in broad terms, according to 'dominant use' or where there is no use, then according to zoning.  A rating category is purely for determining the rating basis.  Categories do not change zonings, or permitted use or, create subdivision entitlements.  Details of the definition of each rating category (Residential, Farmland, Business or Mining), as prescribed under legislation, are available by contacting Council.

If you disagree with your property rating category please contact the Rates Section to discuss this matter on (02) 6648 4444.

Types of Rates and Charges

Click on the following link for descriptions of the different Types of Rates and Charges that may be included on your Rates Notice.

Paying Your Rates

Coffs Harbour City Council rates are payable by instalments with the following due dates:

Please Note: Interest charges apply to rate instalments that are not paid by the due dates.

If you wish to pay your rates in full, payment should be made on or before the first instalment due date (31 August 2009). 

Having Difficulty in Making Rate Account Payment Deadlines?

Our Debt Recovery procedures include the issue of notices for overdue rate instalments.  If you cannot pay by the date required then please contact Council's Rate Section on (02) 6648 4444 to make a payment arrangement.  This will avoid the expense and inconvenience of issuing an Overdue Instalment Notice or even worse initiating legal action.

Having Difficulty in Making Water Account Payment Deadlines?

Our Debt Recovery procedures include the issue of reminder notices for overdue water account payments.  If you cannot pay by the date required then please contact Council's Water Billing Section on (02) 6648 4333 to make a payment arrangement. 

Please Note: Sections 560 and 561 of the Local Government Act 1993, state that liability to pay a rate or charge (including water charges) rests with the owner of the land on which the rate or charge is levied.

It is for this reason that Council has a 'legal relationship' only with property owners in regards to rates and charges (including water charges) and is not in a position to discuss account details (including the granting of payment extensions) with tenants or lessees. 

Additional fees are charged to the water account if reminder notices are required to be issued.  Non-payment of outstanding water account charges can result in a restriction of the water supply meaning that the water flow to the property is dramatically reduced.

Changes of Postal Address

A 'Change of Address' form is required to be completed and signed by a property owner before the change will be recorded.  This process has been introduced to minimise the possibility of unauthorised account changes.

Click on the following link for a  Change of Address form (152KB).

Alternatively please contact Council's Rates Section on (02) 6648 4444 if you would like this form sent to you.

Please Note: A change of address will not be accepted by Council over the telephone or via any other method which does not include a signature from a property owner authorising the change.  Address changes will also not be accepted from a third party acting on behalf of a property owner.

Who do I Contact Concerning Waste Collection Services?

Please contact Council's Waste Contractor direct on 1800 265 495 if you have any enquiries concerning waste services (not including Ex Pristine areas)

Ex Pristine ratepayers (ONLY) need to phone 1800 335 599 for any enquiries concerning waste services as a different contractor is used for this area.

Further Information

Check the back of your rate notice for further information about:

How interest charges are applied

• Pensioner concessions
• Exemptions from rates
• Property rating category
• Postponement of rates
• Collection of Personal Information

Contacting Council's Rates and Water Billing Sections

To ensure customer enquiries are dealt with in an efficient and timely manner it is requested that the following contact details be used when making account enquiries.

• For Rate Account enquiries please phone (02) 6648 4444
  (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
• For Water Account enquiries please phone (02) 6648 4333
  (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
• Please e-mail all rate and water account enquiries to coffs.council@chcc.nsw.gov.au