Council offers rates assistance for disaster-impacted community

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Published
24 January 2024

Scenic Rim property owners severely impacted by the recent Christmas Night storms or subsequent flooding are able to apply for financial relief to defer their upcoming rates payment. 

With rates notices for 1 January to 30 June 2024 having already been issued, Council at its Ordinary Meeting today endorsed concessions for residents and local businesses suffering hardship following the natural disaster. 

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the Christmas Night storms, followed by flooding during the first days of the New Year, caused substantial damage to some parts of the region and that similar rates relief measures had been provided to the community following the 2019 Black Summer bushfires and the floods of early 2022.  

"Council recognises that many in our community have experienced a particularly tough time in recent weeks and that the impacts of this latest disaster will continue to be felt for some time to come," he said. 

"Allowing a financial assistance concession that enables residents and business owners suffering hardship will provide some much-needed relief for those struggling to get back on their feet." 

For eligible residents and business operators, the concession will effectively extend the discount period until 28 June 2024 with interest charges also suspended until this time. 

Applications for the concession must be made to Council in writing, providing information or documents as necessary, to support the ratepayer's claim that the damage from the disaster has:  

  • impacted the liveability of their residence or 
  • seen their commercial operations directly affected due to physical assets being severely damaged and/or lost or 
  • impacted the ability of land for which the property is rated to generate revenue. 

Mayor Christensen said the rates concession was additional to the existing financial assistance available from the Queensland and Australian governments, including programs to eligible residents through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

"Council is committed to supporting the community and to working with other levels of government as our region continues to recover from the devastating events we've recently experienced," Mayor Christensen said.