We offer a range of payment options to suit your needs.

We offer a range of payment options to suit your needs.

You can have your Rates and Water Accounts emailed to your nominated email address. The use of emailed bill delivery is quicker, cheaper and better for the environment.

Signing up for this free service will also let you login to the web portal so you can change your email details, retrieve forgotten passwords, view and reprint notices. Please read the Terms & Conditions of Use prior to registering for this service.

To register, open the eNotices portal and follow the 3 easy steps below:

STEP 1
Enter in your email address and eNotices reference number as it appears on your notice.

STEP 2
Check your email inbox and click the validation link.

STEP 3
Select a password and enter your mobile number.

REGISTERING ADDITIONAL NOTICES
To register additional notices, click “Add your notice” in your account Dashboard and the eNotices reference number for each additional notice.

THAT’S IT!
You will now receive notices in your email inbox, and can login to view them online at any time.

What Notices can I receive via this email service?

​Once registered you will be able to receive: Annual Rate Notice(s), Rate Instalment Notice(s), Rate Reminder Notice(s), Water Account(s) and Water Account Reminder Notice(s) via this email service.

I did not receive my validation link?

Please check your junk folder in your email account. If you need further assistance please call 02 6740 2100.

Could my notice automatically go to my junk/spam folder?

Yes it could, so please check your junk folder in your email account and mark the sender as safe to recieve further notices to your inbox.

If I own more than one property, must I register each property and Account type (i.e. Rate Notices or Water Notices) separately?

​Yes, you will need to register each property you own separately – as well as registering the type of account (i.e. Rates or Water Notices) you would like to receive via email for that property.

After registering for this service, other than Rate and Water Notices, will I receive other Council correspondence or notices via email as well?

​Not necessarily, while Council makes every effect to utilise e-mail for the delivery of correspondence and other accounts, you may still receive some correspondence (e.g. letters) via the post but Council will continue to develop systems to expand on this service.

Will I (or other joint property owners) receive Rate or Water Notices through the post once I register to receive these notices via email?

No, once you have registered to receive your rate or water notices via email you or joint property owners will no longer receive paper notices in the post.

Can Rate and Water Notices be emailed to more than one property owner?

Yes, once you have registered to receive your Rate or Water Notices via email you can link other email addresses for joint property owners etc. to also receive these notices.

What do I do if I change my email address?

​Log on to the eNotices portal using your existing login details and update your email address.

Can I cancel my subscription to this email service?

Yes, you can do this via web portal. If you unsubscribe from receiving your notices electronically, paper notices will be issued after this time via normal post. Notices will be sent to the last advised mailing address for the property. Unsubscription may take one billing cycle to process.

If I receive my Rate or Water Account Notice by email, what payment methods can I use?

​You can use any available payment method detailed on the Account Notice including direct debit.

Why do I need to pay Council rates?

Rates are an important part of how we look after each other. Everyone who owns land in our local government area pays rates. Gunnedah Shire Council then uses those rates to fund essential services for our community including:

• Roads, bridges, footpaths, drainage & flood mitigation
• Parks, public conveniences, cemeteries, pools & sporting facilities
• Libraries, community centres, halls, cultural & entertainment venues
• Planning, building, animal, health & public order controls
• Contributions to Fire + Rescue, RFS, SES & other community groups
• Aged, youth and child services
• Tourism, events & economic development.

You can read more about Council’s Rates and Annual Charges in the Gunnedah Shire Council Operational Plan.

How much of Council’s income is from rates and annual charges?

Income generated by rate and annual charges makes up approximately 43% of Council’s total yearly income.

When do I pay my rates?

Rates are calculated from 1 July to 30 June each year and broken down into four instalments:

• 1st instalment - 31 August
• 2nd instalment - 30 November
• 3rd instalment - 28 February
• 4th instalment - 31 May

You’ll receive your rate notice approximately four weeks before the due date. Interest is charged on any overdue amount.

If you are making a single payment for the full years rates and charges, the payment is due on or before 31 August.

Why is interest charged on rates and annual charges?

If you do not pay your rates, annual charges or water usage bill by the due date, interest will be added to the outstanding amount as a penalty charge. The interest rate charged is disclosed on the front of your rates and annual charges and water usage notices.

What is the categorisation of my land?

The Local Government Act, 1993 requires Council to declare each parcel of rateable land with in the Council area to be in one of the following categories:

• residential
• business
• farmland
• mining

Gunnedah Shire Council currently has four residential and two business sub-categories.

Your property’s category is based on the primary use of the property and is shown on the rate notice. If you don’t agree with the Council’s categorisation of your land, you can lodge an appeal to the Land and Environment Court within 30 days of the declaration.

Please notify Council within 30 days if there has been a change in use of your land, which may change the category of your land for rating purposes.

At any time, you may apply to Council to have a land category and sub-category reviewed. If you wish to discuss the categorisation of your land please email Council’s Revenue Team, or phone 02 6740 2100 or complete the Change in rating Classification Application Form and return for consideration.

For properties to be classified as Farmland an Application for classification of land as farm land for rating purposes is to be completed and returned to Council for determination.

How are ordinary rates calculated?

The setting of ordinary rates each year involves the following process;

• Council calculates the total permissible rate income by applying the approved % increase to the previous year’s rate income
• The total income is allocated over the rating categories
• The income per category/sub category is allocated based on the land value total for the category and adjusted for those with a land value less than the amount that would be raised if they fall below the minimum rate for that category/sun category.

The general rate for each property is the rate in $ (for its category/subcategory) multiplied by the land value and if the amount is less than the minimum rate for the category/sub category the minimum rate is applied.

How is my land valued?

Land values assigned for rating purposes are supplied to Council by the Valuer General’s Office and are made every three years. If you don’t agree with the valuation of your land, you must direct any objections to the Valuer General’s Office. Whether or not an objection is pending, the rates levied must be paid by the due date indicated on the front of your rate notice.

Is any land exempt from rates and annual charges?

Certain land classified as non-rateable is exempt from rates and annual charges.

In order to be eligible for exemption from rates and annual charges your parcel of land must fall into one of the following categories:

• churches
• minister's residences
• schools
• public land
• hospitals
• land owned and used by public charities
• other land as provided in the provisions of the section 555 and 556 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

If you are dissatisfied with Council's decision you may appeal this decision in the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

What is rate pegging?

Under the Local Government Act 1993, the total amount of income that a council can raise from certain rates and charges is limited. This is called the rate peg percentage. The rate peg is determined on an annual basis.

Because of rate pegging, a council’s overall rates revenue cannot increase by more than the approved percentage increase.

If overall land values rise, councils may have to reduce or otherwise adjust the amount of rates levied per dollar so that total income does not grow by more than the approved percentage increase.

Can my rates increase by more than the limit allowed by the State Government?

Yes.

The rates paid by some rate ratepayers may increase, decrease or stay the same in regard to the rate peg % limit set by IPART on behalf of the State Government each year. This will occur only as a result of a General Revaluation of all land values, which occurs every 3 years. (The determining factor is the land valuation on EACH individual property).

OR, if Council is successful in an application to IPART for a Special Rate Variation above the set Rate Peg % amount for that year.

What are postponement of rates?

Postponed rates are part of your normal rate calculation however they are kept in a suspense account separate to your rate account. This means that the amount of rates you actually pay each year is reduced. The rates postponed accrue on a year to year basis and attract interest charges. Upon reaching the sixth year Council will write off the first years rates postponed together with interest charged. Council will do this every year. This means that at any one time you will only have five years rates postponed plus applicable interest charges.

Any change to the residential or rural status such as demolition of a house for redevelopment, subdivision or usage change to business or commercial must be notified to Council within one (1) month. Should any changes occur, you will be required to pay the postponed rates and interest held in the postponed account.

If you wish to make an application please read section 585 of the Local Government Act 1993 to ensure that your parcel of land is eligible to be considered for the postponement of rates.

What is a domestic waste management charge?

Under the Local Government Act 1993, Council must levy an annual charge for the cost of delivering domestic waste management services such as garbage, green waste and recycling and this can’t be financed from ordinary rates. As such, Council sets a separate and sufficient annual charge to cover the reasonable cost of providing these services.

The costs involved in this annual charge include:

• Costs associated with collection of garbage, greenwaste and recycling
• Processing costs associated with garbage, greenwaste and recycling
• Licensing requirements for these wastes collected at transfer stations and landfills
• Contamination Management costs associated with greenwaste and recycling collection
• Waste and Recycling education
• Management and administration of all Council's waste collection and processing services.

A Vacant Land waste charge is applied to each residential parcel of vacant rateable land that is within the waste collection area, for which the service is available.

Why do I pay a waste management facility charge?

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993, requires councils to levy an annual charge for waste management on all parcels of rateable land, including vacant land, whether or not the facilities are actually used. It is considered that all property owners should contribute to the current and future provisions of waste management.

The costs involved in waste management include:

• Maintenance, upgrading and future remediation of Council’s transfer stations and landfills
• Licensing requirements of the transfer stations and landfills
• Monitoring of transfer stations and landfills
• Waste and Resource Recovery education
• Management and administration of all Council's landfill sites.

What’s the stormwater management levy?

This is a levy we charge to help cover the cost of managing stormwater that flows off privately owned, developed urban land. The levy helps us provide, manage and improve our community’s stormwater system.

What are wastewater (sewerage) availability charges?

Each property that has access to the Council’s sewer service, whether or not the property is connected, is charged an annual levy for wastewater management.

The levy for non-residential properties connected to the Council’s sewer service is calculated by multiplying an availability charge per connection (based upon water meter size) plus a sewer usage charge by a sewer discharge factor. Where this calculated charge is less than the minimum non-residential sewer service availability charge, the non-residential sewer service availability charge will apply. Otherwise the calculated charge will apply.

What are water service availability charges?

If your property has access to Council’s water service, whether or not you are connected to or use that service, an annual service availability charged will apply based on the size of the meter. Properties that are exempt from rates under section 555 of the Local Government Act 1993 are exempt from availability charges, unless they are using the service.

What are water consumption charges?

Gunnedah Shire Council charges water consumption per kilolitre of actual water consumed. All residential are currently charged on based on a tired system:

1st Tier - 0 to 400 kilolitres
2nd Tier - 401 kilolitres and above

and from 1 July 2022

1st Tier - 0 to 400 kilolitres
2nd Tier - 401 to 800 kilolitres
3rd Tier - 801 kilolitres and above

Gunnedah Shire Council operates a Three Tier Tariff System for all residential properties.  The Three Tier Tariff System is designed to encourage residential users to conserve water and is based on the NSW Department of Industry Best-Practice Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Guidelines.

The lowest tier typically corresponds to an amount of water sufficient to meet basic indoor needs like drinking and bathing.  Each subsequent tier charges a higher rate and is designed to discourage households from using water for non-essential things like large lawns and swimming pools.

This means that the first 400kL of water used in a financial year is calculated at the first tier rate. Water usage from 401kL to 800kL will be charged a 1.5 times higher than the tier 1 rate and consumption above 800kL will be charged at 1.5 times higher than tier 2 rate.

Non-residential water properties are charged a fixed rate per kilolitre for all water consumed.

As a pensioner, are you eligible for a concession/rebate on your rates?

Concessions are available for eligible pensioners. To be an eligible pensioner you must receive a pension from either Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and be entitled to a pensioner concession card issued by the Commonwealth Government. You can only claim a concession on the property if it is the sole or principal place you live.

Eligible pensioners are entitled to:

• Half of the total of your ordinary rates and domestic waste management service charge, up to a maximum of $250.
• Half of your water rates or charges, up to a maximum of $87.50.
• Half of your sewerage rates or charges, up to a maximum of $87.50.

If joint owners are eligible for a pensioner concession, a separate form will need to be completed by each owner to receive the maximum rebate, otherwise only a partial rebate will be granted.

Call us on 02 6740 2100 or visit us at the Administration Building with your card to complete a Pensioner Concession Rebate Application Form.

I’m experiencing financial difficulties. What can I do?

If you’re worried you won’t be able to pay your rates or water account by the due date, please call the Revenue Team on 02 6740 2100. We may be able to make alternative arrangements for you (interest may still be charged). Alternatively, fill in a Hardship Rate Relief Application Form and return to Council for consideration on the assistance that could be provided as set out in Council’s adopted Hardship Policy.

How do I update my personal details?

Postal address:

Let us know your new address by emailing council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au, completing our Change of Postal Address Form, or by writing to Gunnedah Shire Council, PO Box 63, Gunnedah NSW 2380.

Name change:

Send us a certified copy of your marriage certificate, change of name certificate or divorce order. You can use your driver’s licence in support of one of the above documents, but not in its place.

Add or delete a name:

Change your title deeds with NSW Land Registry Services. They’ll let us know your new details.