About your rates

Rates are a local tax levied on all rateable land in the Mid-Western Regional Council area. Rates are calculated based on land value, which is determined by the NSW Valuer General, independent of Council. Land values are reviewed every three years by the NSW Valuer General. The valuations are for land only (not buildings or improvements).

If you disagree with your Land Value used, you can contact the Valuer General for a review:

• Phone 1800 110 038
• valuergeneral.nsw.gov.au
  
  

As Mid-Western Regional Council’s overall rates income is limited by rate pegging, an increase or decrease in your land value doesn’t necessarily mean a corresponding increase or decrease in your rates.

For more information on rating please visit the Office of Local Government website.

The Local Government Act 1993 makes provision for payment of rates by quarterly instalment amounts.

Rates notice schedule (annual)

If you elect to pay by quarterly instalment amounts, individual notices will be issued at least one month prior to these dates (Section 562 Local Government Act, 1993). Should you wish to pay in full, payment must be received by the due date of the first instalment. If you pay your rates by an instalment or annual direct debit the amount due will be deducted from your nominated bank account on the due dates above. 

Interest charges will accrue on a daily basis on quarterly rate accounts which are not paid by the due dates (Section 566 Local Government Act, 1993). Under certain circumstances, Council may consider writing off interest charges.

Applications for consideration must be made in writing (Section 567 Local Government Act, 1993).

The interest percentage will be shown on the front of your rates and charges Notice.

If you are experiencing difficulties paying your rates, please contact Council immediately to discuss payment options and/or enter into an arrangement to make periodic payments in accordance with Council's Debt Management and Recovery Policy.

Please note interest charges will however still apply. These enquiries are treated confidentially and will help prevent costly legal action for recovery of rates.

T: 02 6378 2850
E: council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

Hardship Assistance Application Form(PDF, 269KB)

Certain lands are exempt from rates, e.g., vacant Crown Lands, parcels of land within a National Park and land that belongs, for example, to a religious body or school. Details about exemptions can be provided by Council (Sections 555, 556, 557 and 558 Local Government Act, 1993).

Unless you meet the exemption criteria outlined in the Local Government Act, you cannot be exempt from paying rates.

Within 30 days of the service of a rate notice, a person may apply to have the property declared non-rateable by the Land and Environment Court (Section 574 Local Government Act, 1993).

Council may postpone part of the rates where a property is capable of subdivision or is in a commercial zone and is used as a single dwelling house (Sections 585, 591 Local Government Act, 1993).

To apply for postponement of rates and charges please submit a written request to Council.

Download the Application Form(PDF, 178KB)

T: 6378 2850
E: council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

To request rates notices from previous years and payment history, please get in touch with Council with details of the requested period.

T: 6378 2850
E: council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

Requests for clarification on matters referred to above and any other rating enquiry should be directed by telephone or in person to one of Council's Customer Service Centres in Gulgong, Mudgee or Rylstone.

Council Customer Service Centres

T: 6378 2850
E: council@midwestern.nsw.gov.au

Each year the NSW State Government through the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) approves a maximum percentage increase in the total income a council can receive from rates, thereby limiting the amount of income a council can raise via rates.

Even if your land value increases, your rates may not necessarily increase by the same amount due to the rate peg cap.

All rateable land in our area is classified as one of the following:

• Residential
• Business
• Farmland
• Mining

Your property’s rating category is shown on your annual rates notice. You must notify Council within 30 days if your property's use changes. You may also request a review of your categorisation.

Rates are calculating by multiplying the land value supplied by the Valuer General by the ad valorem rate for your property’s rating category. Council also applies a minimum amount to ensure all properties contribute at least a base level, regardless of land value.

• Ad valorem rate = a charge per dollar of land value
• Minimum rate = a set amount payable if the calculated rate is below a threshold

Under the Local Government Act 1993, Councils are required to apply annual charges for water, sewer, and waste services wherever those services are available. These charges help fund the maintenance and operation of each service.

Water Access Charge - applies to properties within 225 metres of a Council water main — even if not connected.

Sewer Access Charge - applies to properties within 75 metres of a Council sewer main — even if not connected.

General Waste Charge - applies to all rateable land, including vacant blocks.

Domestic Waste Management Charge - applies to each parcel of rateable land where the service is available. This charge includes weekly collection of:

• One 240-litre green bin (FOGO)
• Two recycling bins (yellow lid and blue lid)
• One general waste bin