The NSW Government in response to IPART’s review of the Local Government’s Rating System, has issued the draft Local Government Amendment (Rating) Bill 2020 and consultation guide.

The Local Government Amendment (Rating) Bill 2020 has identified and proposed reforms to ensure the rating system is equitable and responsive to changing community needs, allowing greater flexibility in the current rating system, make rates fairer and help councils cater for population growth and infrastructure needs.  These reforms include:

• Allow gradual rates harmonisation to seventeen councils created in 2016 (This item does not affect Narrandera Shire Council Local Government Area).
• Allow councils to levy special rates above the rate peg for infrastructure jointly funded with other levels of government without IPART approval.
• Create a new rating category for environmental land for properties that cannot be developed.
• Allow councils to create more flexible residential, business and farmland rating subcategories to enable them to set fairer rates.
• Allow councils to create separate rating subcategories for vacant residential, business and mining land to provide additional flexibility for councils to tailor rates for local communities.
• Remove the rating exemption for land subject to new conservation agreements and allow it to be rated under the new environmental land category.
• Allow councils to choose whether to exempt certain land from special rates for water and sewerage.
• Require councils to publicly report the value of any rating exemptions they choose to grant.
• Limit postponement of rates on rezoned land and let councils decide whether to write off any debts, and
• Allow councils to sell properties for unpaid rates after three years rather than five years.

The Bill is currently open for feedback and Narrandera Shire Council is encouraging all rate payers to have their say.

To complete a submission visit https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/councils/policy-and-legislation/fairer-rating-system-consultation/.

Submissions close COB 5 February 2021.