Rates Frequently Asked Questions

You can now have your rate notice conveniently delivered electronically to any computer or device.

Please refer to the 'How to Guide' for details or simply register here.

First instalment Rate notices for 2024/2025 will be posted out in early August 2024 to all ratepayers of the City of Mount Gambier. If you do not receive your notice please contact Council’s Rates Office by phoning 8721 2561 or emailing city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au

Ratepayers can chose to pay rates in either four quarterly instalments or in one annual amount.

Each quarterly instalment is payable on or before:

Rate Instalment No 1 - is due and payable by Friday 6 September 2024

Rate Instalment No 2 - is due and payable by Friday 6 December 2024

Rate Instalment No 3 - is due and payable by Friday 7 March 2025

Rate Instalment No 4 - is due and payable by Friday 6 June 2025

When paying by instalments, the Council will send out separate instalment notices approximately 30 days prior to each payment due date.

Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact Rates Office by phoning 08 8721 2561 at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.

As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Such enquiries are treated confidentially.

If you do not receive your notice please contact Council’s rates office by phoning 8721 2561 or email city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au, or use the Rates Enquiry Form.

Council advises that pursuant to the Local Government Act 1999 it is the ratepayers responsibility to lodge their rate payments with Council prior to the prescribed date. Fines and/or interest apply for payments not received at the Council by the due date.

Rates may be paid by the following methods :

• Online at: https://ecouncil.mountgambier
• By telephone - call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 276 468 quoting biller code 1345263,
• By BPay - call your bank, credit union or building society to make this payment from your cheque, savings or credit card. Quoting biller code 464263 and your customer number located on the front of your rates notice,
• Australia Post - attending any Post Office or by phoning 13 18 16 quoting billpay code 2852 and your customer number located on the front of your rates notice,
• By mail - detach payment slip and mail with your cheque or money order to: City of Mount Gambier, PO Box 56 MOUNT GAMBIER SA 5290,
• Paying in person - present with payment to Council Offices at 10 Watson Terrace, Mount Gambier. Payment is acceptable by EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa, cash, cheque or money order, and
• Direct debit - arrangements for direct debt payments from cheque or savings accounts can be arranged (refer to Direct Debit information below).

Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact Rates Office by phoning 08 8721 2561 at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.

As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Such enquiries are treated confidentially.

Checking your current outstanding rates balance is easy.

All you need to do is follow these steps:

1. Open our online payment portal here.
2. Enter your customer reference number and click next. Your customer reference number can be found on your rates notice.
3. Your rates balance will be displayed.

You can then proceed to make a payment if you wish.

Many ratepayers have already taken the opportunity to make/set up regular payments. Council offers you a number of convenient ways to pay your rates including direct debit. See the questions and answers above and below for further details.

Arrange to have a fortnightly or quarterly payment deducted from either your cheque or savings account.

Download the direct debit request form and return the completed form to Council by:

• Mail - to City of Mount Gambier, PO Box 56 Mount Gambier SA 5290,
• In person at the Council office, Civic Centre, 10 Watson Terrace Mount Gambier SA 5290,
• Fax - to 08 8724 9791, or
• Email to city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au

Fortnightly payments are processed on Tuesday each fortnight. Please contact the Rates office for further details on the next deduction date by phoning 8721 2561.

If processing day of “Tuesday fortnight” does not suit, ratepayers are encouraged to contact their bank to set up ongoing Bpay payments on days which better suit their needs.

Quarterly payments are processed on the 'rates due date' of each quarter. Rate notices continue to be issued to ratepayers.

It is the ratepayers responsibility to ensure there are sufficient clear funds available in their bank account to allow a direct debit payment to be made in accordance with the direct debit request. The City of Mount Gambier will recover all fees and charges resulting from dishonoured or returned debits.

From July 1, 2015 the State Government elected to replace the concession on Council Rates with the 'Cost of Living Concession' provided directly to those entitled. The Cost of living Concession helps those on low or fixed incomes with any of their cost of living expenses, including offsetting Council Rates.

Applications can be made between 1 July and 31 October each year.

To check eligibility and obtain application forms, contact the Department for Communities & Social Inclusions Hotline 1800 307 758 or www.sa.gov.au and search cost of living concession.

Rate payments must be received on or before the due date shown on the rates notice.

Please note:

• A fine of 2% will be applied to the amount due.
• Every month thereafter, interest (at the prescribed rate) will be charged on the total amount in arrears.

Alternative payment arrangements

Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact the Rates office by phoning (08) 8721 2555 (option 1) at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.

As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Such enquiries are treated confidentially.

If alternative payment arrangements are not agreed upon, or if alternative arrangements are not adhered to, Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency without further notice being provided. The debt collection agency’s fees and charges are recoverable from the ratepayer.

Please note that fines and/or interest still apply for late payments.

Any changes to your mailing address for the delivery of the rate notice must be made in writing. Changes can only be made by the property owner or ratepayer or someone granted with the authority to do so by the property owner.

When advising us or your change of address, please be sure to provide the following details:

• Ratepayers full name,
• Customer number or assessment number (if you have it),
• Property address,
• New mailing address, and
• Phone number.

How to tell us:

• Email – send an email to city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
• Fax – send a fax to 08 8724 9791
• Mail – send a letter to City of Mount Gambier, PO Box 56, Mount Gambier SA 5290.

Any changes to your mailing address for the delivery of the rate notice must be made in writing. Changes can only be made by the property owner or ratepayer or someone granted with the authority to do so by the property owner.

Alternatively, complete a request online here.

You may object to the valuation referred to in your rates notice by writing, serve personally or by post on the Valuer-General within 60 days after the date of the service of the rates notice.

But note:

• If you have previously received a notice or notices under the Local Government Act 1999 referring to the valuation and informing you of a 60 day objection period, the objection period is 60 days after service of the first such notice;
• You may not object to the valuation if the Valuer-General has already considered an objection by you to that valuation.

The Valuer-General may extend the 60-day objection period where it be shown there is reasonable cause to do so by a person entitled to make an objection to a valuation. A written objection to valuation must set out the full and detailed grounds for objection, including any supporting information.

Differential General Rates imposed by the Council are based on various Land Use Categories. These Land Use Categories are advised to Council by the Valuer-General. Should you have any reason to believe that the Land Use Category applied to your account is incorrect, you may lodge a written objection with Council outlining the grounds upon which your objection is based. Objections must be submitted to Council within 60 days of receiving rate notice. If you have previously received a notice or notices under the Local Government Act 1999 referring to the Land Use and informing you of a 60 day objection period, the objection period is 60 days after service of the first such notice;

The Council may at its discretion, allow an extension of time if a person entitled to make an objection shows that there is reasonable cause to do so.

Rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection is lodged.

The City of Mount Gambier uses a combination of a fixed charge on every rateable property and a differential or variable rating system, based on land use.

Rate payments must be received on or before the due date shown on the rates notice.

Please note:

• A fine of 2% will then be applied to the amount due.
• Every month thereafter, interest (at the prescribed rate) will be charged on the total amount in arrears.

Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact Rates Office by phoning 08 8721 2561 at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.

As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Such enquiries are treated confidentially.

If alternative payment arrangements are not agreed upon or if alternative arrangements are not adhered to Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency without further notice being provided. The debt collection agency’s fees and charges are recoverable from the ratepayer

Please note that fines and/or interest still apply for late payments.

The Valuer-General provides valuation data to Council. If you feel you valuation is incorrect an objection must be lodged with the Valuer General.

For details please refer to objection to valuation and/or land use above.

Waste management is one of the largest costs to the community and Council wishes to encourage ratepayers to consider their personal environmental impact and the associated costs. This service charge is intended to cover costs including bin collection, waste treatment and disposal and maintaining, improving, and replacing the service.

Rates office can be contacted by phoning City of Mount Gambier on 08 8721 2561 or emailing city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au

Enquiries may be lodged via online rates enquiry form.

Office hours during 9:00 am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday