Recently a letter to the editor in a number of Scenic Rim publications has been published comparing the Scenic Rim Regional Council Rates against other Councils in South East Queensland. While I do not wish to enter the politics behind such letters I would like the opportunity to provide information to the community.
The Scenic Rim Regional Council was never requested by Brisbane City Council to provide information to be included in a comparative survey of residential rates and charges for South East Queensland Councils. It was stated that the Scenic Rim Regional Council declined to participate. This is not true.
The Council recently undertook a rates and charges comparison with like sized and geographically similar Councils and the following table demonstrates the results based on a land valuation of $180,000 on a residential property:
| Council |
Rates PA |
| Scenic Rim Regional Council |
$1,686.30 |
| Lockyer Valley Regional Council |
$1,960.00 |
| Somerset Regional Council |
$1,350.24 |
| Gympie Regional Council |
$1,802.24 |
| Southern Downs Regional Council |
$2,229.85 |
This includes garbage charges and other infrastructure type charges which you will find on your rates notice.
As can be seen the Scenic Rim Regional Council is certainly not the cheapest rates, but is certainly not the highest. I think it is right to compare Council’s on their rates but I think it needs to be done with Council’s with similar issues, cost bases, populations and service levels.
Mark Griffioen
Director Corporate Services
Scenic Rim Regional Council