Understanding your rates

Rates are an annual charge against a property set by Council in July of each year. Rates help us to fund the services we provide. 

Rates are based on:

• the use of the property (e.g. residential/commercial)
• the rating valuation of the property
• the number of Separately Used or Inhabited Parts (SUIPs) of the property
• the availability of services to the property (e.g. water, wastewater, refuse collection)
• the location of the property if it is commercial (i.e. in the CBD or outside the CBD)

Council operates different rating categories. Different rates apply to the different categories:

• residential
• commercial (outside the CBD)
• BID commercial (in the CBD)
• other 
• service use (church/educational/community)
• sporting/cultural.

The rates increase of 4.9% was set in our 2021-31 Long-Term plan.

We use the property values from the 2021 city-wide revaluation.

If your property value increased by more than the city average, then your rates will also increase by more than the average. If your value increase was less, then your rates increase will also be less.

• A residential property with a Capital Value increase of about 57% should see a rates increase of about 4.9%.
• A commercial/industrial property with a Capital Value increase of about 40% should see a rates increase of about 4.9%.

Besides the city-wide revaluation, there are some other reasons your rates may have changed more than the 4.9% average. This includes if the use of your property has changed, or you've recently completed some building works.