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Understanding Rates and Charges
 

How to read your Notice

We've put together a sample to explain the information shown on your Rates and Charges Notice. 

Find out more about the charges listed on your Notice below.
 

Rates

Your rates are calculated based on the land value of your property issued by the NSW Valuer-General, with low value properties subject to a minimum rate amount. This ensures each ratepayer contributes a fair share towards community services. The total amount of rates Council collects from ratepayers is limited (capped) by the NSW Government.

  • House owners generally pay much higher council rates than strata properties like apartments, villas or townhouse), due to their higher land value. 

  • ​Apartment/villa/townhouse owners are either charged the minimum rate or the rate based on their share of the complex, whichever is higher. (Each strata lot has units of entitlement that determine its share of the total land value).

 

​Service Charges (waste and stormwater)

Waste disposal costs usually rise each year, but improvements in the new collection contract have lowered Council’s expenses - resulting in no change to waste management fees for 2026/27. Stormwater charges remain the same.​

Diagram for how total rates collected are calculated and how rates are calculated for an individual property.

You can view our video on how rates are calculated or click on the video below.


 

Overview - Our Area

  • Estimated residential population: 161,593(per Australian Bureau of Statistics).

  • Georges River rates per person (total residential rates collected ÷ population): $513.00 (in 2026).

  • New South Wales' average rates person: $591.00 (in 2019).

  • Other states average: $835.00 (in 2019).

 

Rate and Charges Structure for 2026/2027

Type

Minimum

 Rate in the dollar*
(Ad-valorem)

^Residential - Ordinary

 $1,157.00 $0.0013483

^Business General - Ordinary

 $1,318.00 $0.0031219

^Business Industrial - Ordinary

 $1,318.00 $0.0028504

^Business Local - Ordinary

$1,318.00

 $0.0044565
^Business Major Shopping Complex - Ordinary $1,797.00 $0.0117441
^Business Strategic Centres - Ordinary $1,797.00 $0.0046329
Domestic Waste Standard Service Charge $600.00
Stormwater Management Charge Residential property:     
  • Non-strata $25.00
  • Strata $12.50
Non-residential property:       
  • Non-strata $25.00 for every 350 square metres or part thereof to a maximum of $1,500 per rateable property.
  • Strata not less than $5.00 for any individual lot.

*Applicable to land values issued by NSW Valuer-General.
^Rating category. For more information, visit Council's Land Values and Rating Categories page.
 

Where will your rates and charges go?

Rates are re-invested back into the community for vital services that benefit everyone who lives, works or visits the Georges River area. 
Infographic with green squares, images and white text showing showing where rates charges will be allocated

Understanding Rates and Charges - Frequently Asked Questions

For information on waste services, visit Council's Waste page.

For more information, please refer to the Office of Local Government Frequently Asked Questions page.

  • How are rates higher or lower for the surrounding properties?

    Properties with higher land values pay more in rates, and vice versa. Land across NSW is valued by the Valuer-General regularly (usually every three years). Suburbs can be at different stages of the property market at the time the land is valued, and therefore land valuations can vary - even between neighbouring areas.

    • A large increase in land value may mean your suburb has risen sharply in the market, or your property was previously undervalued and has now caught up.

    • A small increase could suggest a stable market, or that your property was already highly valued and other areas are now catching up.   

    For more information, visit the Land valuations and rating categories page.

  • How does Council decide how much the community pays for Rates and Charges?

    Each Council is required to determine the combination of rates, charges, fees and pricing policies needed to fund the services it provides to the community. This is called a Revenue Policy (available within the Delivery Program and Operational Plan).

    The Revenue Policy contains a rating structure that determines the rates and charges and how they will be calculated.

    Charges are generally determined on an annual basis (1 July to 30 June the following year).

  • How does the rate peg affect rates?

    The NSW Government sets a limit on how much Council can increase its total rates each year through the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). This is known as rate capping.

    Each year, IPART sets a rate peg, which is the maximum amount Council can increase its rates income unless IPART has approved a Special Rate Variation (SRV) for Council.Georges River Council does not currently have an approved SRV. This means any increase in the total rates collected is limited to the annual rate peg set by IPART.

    Although Council's total rates income increases by the percentage set by IPART, the impact on individual properties may be different. This is because rates are based on land values, which can change from one property to another across the Georges River area.
    For more information about the rate peg, visit IPART's website.

    The rate peg / SRV:

    • Does not apply to stormwater or waste collection charges.

    • Applies to the total rates collected by Council, not to each individual property. As a result, rates for some properties may increase by more or less than the rate peg.

  • How are increases to waste management and stormwater charges controlled?

    Charges for domestic waste management services and stormwater are not subject to rate pegging. 

    • Waste management charges: Council's waste management charges need to reflect the cost in providing waste services and education to the community, and does not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the service. 

    • Stormwater charges: The maximum annual charge is regulated by Section 510A LG Act and Section 125AA under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.

    Councils are still required to provide details in their draft operational plan and related draft revenue policy of what they are proposing to charge. Councils must consider submissions from the public before adopting the proposed rates and charges.

    Share your thoughts and ideas on Council projects and activities on the Your Say Panel.


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