How Rates are Calculated

Your rates are calculated in accordance with NSW legislation, and are based on:

1. The land value of your property, which does not include the value of your home. This amount is determined by Land and Property Information NSW (which incorporates the former Valuer General's Office), and is usually reviewed every three years.

If you own a strata title property, the land value of the entire site is divided by the unit entitlement (listed on your strata plan) to ascertain the land value for each unit.
You can find your land value on your annual rate notice.

2. The rate in the dollar adopted by Council each year, which is specific to the use of the land. For the 2008-2009 rating period, the rate in the dollar for each type of land use is as follows:

• Residential x 0.0020644 cents
• Farmland x 0.0020640 cents
• Business x 0.0040480 cents
• Community Safety Base $3.77 per property
• Community Safety Residential x 0.0000135 cents
• Community Safety Business x 0.0000216 cents
• Community Safety Farmland x 0.0000108 cents
• Infrastructure Base $15.09 per property
• Infrastructure Residential x 0.0000541 cents
• Infrastructure Business x 0.0000863 cents
• Infrastructure Farmland x 0.0000431 cents
• Stormwater Levy - Residential $25.00 per property
• Stormwater Levy - Residential Strata $12.50 per property
• Stormwater Levy - Business $25.00 per 350 sq.m of land area up to a maximum levy of $250.00
• Stormwater Levy - Business Strata $12.50 per property
• Domestic Admin Base fee - $58.00 per Residential property
• Waste Fees - Residential property - $205.00 per initial waste bin (minimum charge) + $266.00 per additional waste bin - Business and Non-rateable property - $263.00 per initial waste bin (minimum charge) + $266.00 per additional waste bin
  
  

Sample calculation | Minimum rates - Residential, Business & Farmland

Sample calculation

For a residential property in possession of one domestic waste bin, and with a land value of $400,000 your annual rates will calculate to $1,159.66 consisting of the following:

Residential Component

If you own a residential property with a land value of $400,000, Council multiplies $400,000 by 0.0020644 to get your residential component of $825.76

Community Safety Base component

Flat fee of $3.77

Community Safety Residential

If you own a residential property with a land value of $400,000, Council multiplies $400,000 by 0.0000135 to get your residential component of $5.40

Infrastructure Base component

Flat fee of $15.09

Infrastructure Residential

If you own a residential property with a land value of $400,000, Council multiplies $400,000 by 0.0000541 to get your residential component of $21.64

Stormwater Levy Residential

Flat fee of $25.00

Waste Fees

Domestic admin base fee of $58.00 + Waste fee of $205.00

Minimum rates - Residential, Business & Farmland

Each year, Council sets a minimum rate charge for City properties. This is considered a fair value for residents to pay towards the core services of Council, regardless of the land value of their property.

For the 2008-2009 rating year, the minimum rate is $613.37. Therefore, when Council calculates rates using the rate in the dollar method, and the Residential, Business & Farmland amount comes to less than $613.37, the minimum rate is charged.