Rates Information
Frequently Asked Questions
I am having difficulty paying my arrears balance.
Any amounts appearing as an arrears balance on your rates and charges notice are due and payable immediately with interest accrued to the date of payment if applicable. If you are unable to pay your rate balance by its due date, please contact Council's Revenue Section on 02 4677 8282 or by e-mail at council@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au to discuss an alternative payment method.
When making payment by post please allow sufficient time for postage. Council will not be held responsible for delays in the postal service.
Rates and charges that are not paid by any specified due date will attract simple daily interest charges specified on your rates and charges notice calculated on a daily basis. Consideration to waiving or reducing interest charges may be given in certain circumstances.
For further information, please see Council's Debt Recovery and Hardship policies.
How do I make application for a pension concession?
If you are an eligible pensioner living at the rateable property, you may be entitled to a rebate on your rates and charges. If you become an eligible pensioner after the issue of your annual rates and charges notice, you may be entitled to a partial pro-rata rebate proportional to the number of quarterly periods remaining.
Application for the pension concession against your rate account can be made by completing a Pensioner Concession Application Form.
Am I charged interest on overdue payments?
Rates and charges that are not paid by any specified due date will attract simple daily interest charges at the rate specified on your rates and charges notice calculated on a daily basis.
If you are unable to make payment by a specified due date, please contact Council on 02 4677 8282 or by e-mail at council@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au to make a payment arrangement.
Consideration to waiving or reducing interest charges may be given in certain circumstances.
How do I make application for exemption from rating?
Certain land is exempt from rating, such as churches, schools and public institutions. Application for exemption from rating should be made in writing to Council and should make reference to the legislation you are making application under.
How do I make application to change my category for rating purposes?
The Local Government Act 1993 requires all rateable land to be categorised as Residential, Business, Farmland or Mining. If you disagree with your category for rating purposes or if the use of the land has changed, you can complete an Application for Change in Category form.
Application for change in category for rating purposes must be made within thirty days of the issue of your annual rates and charges notice. If you are not satisfied with Council's review you can appeal to the Land and Environment Court within thirty days.
How are my rates calculated?
Your land rates are based on the unimproved value of your land calculated by the Valuer General NSW.
All rateable properties are charged a base rate, which is $1,022.00 for the 2024/2025 financial year, as well as an ad valorum rate, being a rate in the dollar multiplied by the rateable land value.
Council's Operational Plan can be viewed for further information regarding Council's rate structure.
The Valuer General NSW can be contact on 1800 110 038 or via their website for further information as to how your rataeble land value has been calculated and how you can object to your land value.
What other charges are listed on my rates and charges notice?
Domestic Waste Management Charges
All rateable land within the area for which the domestic waste management service is available is liable to pay a domestic waste management charge. Vacant land is required to pay an availability charge until a dwelling is constructed on the land and an occupation certificate has been issued.
Council's adopted domestic waste management charges can be viewed in Council's Operational Plan for the current financial year.
Stormwater Management Charge
The stormwater management charge applies to parcels of land rated as residential or business where Council provides stormwater services.
The maximum amount that can be charged is:
- $25 per residential lot.
- $12.50 per residential strata lot.
- A minimum of $25 plus $25 per 350m2 or part thereof for business lots (capped at $325).
Pensioners, rural properties and vacant land are exempt from the charge.
Stormwater is the water which runs off hard surfaces into our local waterways during rainfall events. As stormwater flows across the land it collects pollutants such as dirt, litter and leaves that are then washed into local waterways causing the degradation of these waterways. Wollondilly Shire contains three of Sydney's major water catchments. Parts of these catchments also form part of Sydney's drinking water catchment and it is therefore of vital importance that these waterways are protected. Council is responsible for the management of the stormwater drainage infrastructure in Wollondilly Shire.
Further information regarding the stormwater management charge can be viewed in Council's Operational Plan for the current financial year.
Can I receive my rates and charges notice electronically?
You can elect to receive your rates and charges notice by either post, e-mail or Bpayview.
To make application to receive rates notices via e-mail, please complete an Application for Electronic Rates Notices or register via Council's rate portal by clicking the below link.
If application is made to receive rates and charges notices via Bpayview, notices will be issued through your internet banking provider.
Log on to your internet banking provider to register for Bpayview. When your rate notice arrives your financial institution will advise you by e-mail, SMS or bank message within your online or mobile banking. Your Bpayview reference number is located on the Bpay box on the front of your rates and charges notice
How do I advise Council of my change of postal address details?
If you have made changes to your postal address or other contact details please notify Council in writing by e-mail, fax, post or by completing Council's online form without delay.
Changes will only be made once notification has been received in writing.