Service Charges

Sewerage Charges

Sewerage charges are levied on all properties within the Defined Sewerage Areas to cover the cost of:

  • Sewage collection and treatment;
  • The disposal of effluent and bio-solids.
The same amount of rates is charged to connected properties and non–connected properties within the defined sewerage area. The reason for this is that the major portion of Council’s costs associated with providing a sewerage service is in the provision and maintenance of capital infrastructure (pipes, processing plant etc.) and
these costs must be financed whether or not a property is actually connected to the sewerage system.

An annual Sewerage levy will be charged in 2011/2012 to connected properties and non-connected properties within the defined sewerage areas based on the following criteria:

  • Single residential properties are levied $536.00 for the first pedestal only. No additional charges apply for extra pedestals.
  • Flats, units and residential strata title properties are levied $536.00 per flat, unit or strata title unit, for the first pedestal only. No additional charges apply for extra pedestals.
  • Non-Residentia/Non-Strata properties are levied $536.00 per sewerage pedestal. Eg. a commercial premises with 3 pedestals will attract a charge of $1,608.00 (3 x $536.00).
  • Non-Residential/Strata properties are levieda minimum of one sewerage charge of $536.00 for each strata unit, regardless of whether or not they have an individual sewer connection. Where units have more than one pedestal, a sewerage charge will be levied for each pedestal serving the unit. Each unit owner is levied separately for sewerage charges.
  • Where multiple lots are included on one assessement, Council does not levy a sewrage charge for each allotment. Eg house and vacant lot together - only 1 sewerage charge of $536.00 is levied. Where there are multiple vacant lots on the one assessment - only 1 sewerage charge of $536.00 is levied.
  • Waste Dump Points at Caravan Parks are charged $536.00 per dump point.

Waste Management Charge

Waste Collection Charges are user–pays based charges which are levied on all properties receiving the cleansing service to recover the associated costs based on the following criteria:

  • Single residential properties will be charged $273.00 per set of one weekly refuse and one fortnightly recycling bin. 
  • Premises containing two (2) or more Flats, Apartments or other dwelling units, each used as a separate Dwelling will be charged $273.00 for each separate Dwelling per set of one weekly refuse and one fortnightly recycling bin.
  • $77.00 per additional recycling bin.

Waste Collection Charges include the disposal and/or recycling of the refuse collection through a component of the Council's refuse tip maintenance costs. The charges are annual charges and credits cannot be allowed for periods of time when premises are unoccupied. 

State Government Waste Levy

Council is required to collect a Waste Disposal Levy on behalf of the Queensland Government from all commercial premises receiving such a service. This levy will commence 1 December 2011 and is set by Government on a tonnage rate and is collected by Council based on a routine survey of premises which gives an average tonnage. 

Commercial properties will be charged $273.00 per set of bins for the 1st billing period of 2011/2012 and $296.00 per set of bits for the 2nd billing period (January to June 2012). 

Water Access Charges

A water access charge, will apply to all premises on metered connections with the defined area for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. The charge is determined according to the water meter size(s) serving the premises, in accordance with the following schedule, which provides details of Water Access Charges by meter size and Reticulation Group:

Water Access Charge Description Potable water/unrestricted flow Non-potable water/restricted flow
 Vacant and non-metered
  $352.00  $281.00
 20mm meter connection
  $352.00  $281.00
 25mm meter connection  $384.00

$308.00

 32mm meter connection
  $415.00  $332.00
 40mm meter connection
  $445.00  $355.00
 50mm meter connection
  $522.00  $418.00
 80mm meter connection
  $701.00  $561.00
 100mm meter connection
  $1,080.00  $864.00
 150mm meter connection
  $2,001.00  $1,601.00

Non-potable water or restricted flow water supplies apply to Burnett Downs, Sylvan Woods and Upper Hummock.

A common Access Charge, for same sized meters, applies in all areas receiving a potable water supply based on the following criteria:
  • Vacant and non-metered lands situated in a water area and not serviced with a water connection are levied a Water Access Charge equal to the 20mm charge.
  • Single residential properties are levied aWater Access Charge based on the size of the water meter serving the property, since the meter size determines the potential volume of water used. 
  • Where multiple lots are included on one assessment Council does not levy a water access charge for each allotment. Eg house and vacant lot together - only one Water Access Charge is levied based on the size of the water meter(s) serving the property or, where there are mutliple vacant lots on one assessment only, one water access charge is levied.
  • Blocks of flats are levied one Water Access Charge for each block based on the size of the meter/s servicing the block of flats.
  • Properties with multiple connections are levied a Water Access Charge for each connection. Where an assessment comprises a Body Corporate situation, Council will charge as per the provisions of the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997.
  • A concessional Water Access Charge equal to a 20mm services will be levied for each registered "Dedicated Fire Service" connection even though the actual size of the connection is usually larger.
  • A concession will apply to unlicensed/restricted sporting clubs which have more than 1 connection.  These will be levied one water access charge for each connection based on the size of the water meter(s) serving the property but Council will give a concession equal to the difference between the aforementioned charge and one access charge for their largest meter per assessment and no charges for the other connections.

Water Consumption Charges

Water Consumption is levied half-yearly for the readings undertaken prior to the 31 December 2011, and prior to the 30 June 2012. Generally, the consumption within each Six (6) month reading period will be levied on a Two-Tiered Charging System (Step 1 and Step 2) as set out hereunder:

Step 1: For the first 183 kilolitres of consumption per half year $0.95 and;

Step 2: For all other kilolitres of consumption per half year $1.60.


For water used (as measured) during the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 a use charge shall apply for Burnett Downs Yard Water Supply, Upper Hummock and Sylvan Woods Non-Potable supply, reticulation groups or service areas as follows:

Step 1: For the first 183 kilolitres of consumption per half year $0.75 per Kilolitre and;

Step 2: For all other kilolitres of consumption per half year $1.30 per Kilolitre.

Where an assessment comprises multiple metered lots or services, the charge shall be the standard tariff multiplied by the number of metered connections or services.

For measurement of water use for charging purposes for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012, Section 36 of the Local Government (Finance, Plans and Reporting) Regulation 2010 shall apply to the reading of meters based on the nominal initial meter reading date of 30 June 2011 and nominal final reading date of 30 June 2012.

Council reserves the right to read and levy Water Consumption at intervals other than Six (6) Monthly for specific connections as required.

Water Meter Registering Incorrectly

Where Council is satisfied that a water meter has ceased to register accurately, through no fault of the Ratepayer, Council may on application from the consumer, remit water consumption charges by an amount that results in the Water Consumption Charge equalling an average of the quantity used during the previous accurate period of measurement. 

Please view Council's Water Leak Relief Policy for further information. 

Service Connections outside the declared water service areas

Any approved water service connections, which are located outside the declared water service areas, indicated in Council's Annual Budget Report, will have access and use charges applied in the same manner and at equivalent charges to the use that would apply were they situated within the declared service area to which they are connected.

Water usage is the responsibility of the ratepayer. Applicants will only be eligible for relief if they comply with criteria in terms of Council's Policy. Please view Council's Water page to view fact sheets on water usage, leak detection and reading your water meter. 

Special Charges

The following Council special charges apply to specific properties which benefit from the activities financed by the charge:

Moore Park Drainage:  A charge of $25.00 per rateable property in excess of two (2) hectares in the defined area, is levied for the provision of drainage in the Moore Park
Drainage Scheme Area indicated in Council's Annual Budget Report.

Rural Fire Levy:  At the request of the Queensland Rural Fire Service, Council collects a charge of $30.00 per rateable assessment located in Rural Fire Brigade areas. The money collected is paid to the Brigades to facilitate rural fire services in their area.

Sewerage extensions - Rieck / Manning Streets: A charge of $100.00 is levied on rateable land described as Lots 1 and 2 on RP890930 to fund the cost of the capital construction of sewerage extensions in Rieck and Manning Streets, Gin Gin. 

Reconstruction of Norton Road Bridge: A charge of $600.00 is levied on the rateable land described as Lots 1 and 2 on RP95665 to fund the cost of reconstruction of the single lane timber bridge over the agricultural drain on Norton Road to ensure safe and appropriate access to these properties.

State Fire Levy

Council is required to collect a State Fire Service Levy on behalf of the State Fire Services. For 2011/2012 the levy is as follows:

Area
Dwellings
Vacant Land
Class 'A' Urban Fire District
$161.20
$44.60
Class 'D' Urban Fire District
  $79.40  $20.20

Payment must be made to Council, however as this is not a Local Government charge, any queries regarding the charge, should be directed to:

Queensland Fire Service, GPO Box 1425, Brisbane Q 4001, Telephone: (07) 3635 3041 or Fax: (07) 3109 7263.