Nearly 100 Shire of Waroona properties to have rates calculation method changed in light of residential use

Dozens of properties are set to be affected when the Waroona Shire changes the way it determines rates from next year. Councillors voted on October 25 to approve changes to rate calculations in roughly 72 properties around the Waroona townsite and about 26 properties in Lake Clifton to take into account their primarily use as residential housing. Under the changes, all affected properties will have their rates determined using gross rental value, which is the value a house can expect to make if rented each year once taxes and other expenses are taken into account. As it currently stands, the property rates are determined by unimproved value, which is the value of the land itself without including any infrastructure such as houses. In her report to councillors before the vote, corporate services manager Kirsty Ferraro said recent subdivisions required the council to assess predominant land use to ensure equitability across all rating areas. “The initial proposal for the change of rating method for the properties identified above was presented to council in November 2021,” she said. “This was followed by an assessment of submissions from affected property owners in February 2022 with an anticipated application date of 1st July 2022.” Approval was given by council to measures in February. However, Local Government Minister John Carey requested the changes to land values be sought from Landgate, with the idea of providing the information to owners to allow them to make further submissions. The areas affected by the changes are around McDowell Street on Waroona’s northern fringe, the Banbar View subdivision east of the town and the area surrounded by Harvey Estuary Estate in Lake Clifton. Waroona Shire president Mike Walmsley said the council was required to rate areas in accordance with the greatest use of the land. “Some of these traditional farming areas have slowly been developed,” he said. “When those areas come online, you generally do have to reassess. In some areas it is a bit overdue.” Mr Walmsley said it did not necessarily mean affected residents would see an increase in rates, but the change does generally result in an increase in rates. The changes still need to be approved by the Local Government Minister before they are finalised. If it is approved, the reclassification is only the third time in 20 years the council has changed rating methods for selected parts of the Shire as new developments have sprung up around Waroona and Lake Clifton. The changes are currently scheduled to come into effect on January 1.