Bland Shire council rates — what you pay and when

Rates & fees

Rates are the main way residents fund the council. Each year an independent regulator (IPART) sets a 'rate peg' — the maximum percentage the council can lift its total rates income. Here's the current figure for Bland, the separate charges that appear on a West Wyalong or village rates notice, and the things that actually change your bill.

New to these terms? Read them in plain English

Rate peg: The cap on how much a council's TOTAL rates income can rise this year.
Core peg: The rate peg before the population top-up — the part driven by rising costs.
Population factor: An extra slice of the rate peg for fast-growing councils.
Special Rate Variation (SRV): Permission for a council to raise rates by more than the peg.
Land valuation: Your land's value, set by the state, used to split the rates bill between properties.
Pensioner rebate: A discount on rates for eligible pensioners.
Domestic waste charge: A separate annual fee for your bins — NOT part of the rate peg.
IPART: Sets the rate peg and reviews council pricing.

See the full explainer, with formulas →

Rates at a glance

: 3.6%Set by IPART — a core peg of 3.6% with a population factor of 0.0%, giving a total peg of 3.6%. It caps the council's total rates income, not your individual bill.
: 4.2%Council's adopted 2025-26 Revenue Policy states that the 2025-26 ordinary rates are based on the 4.2% rate-pegging limit applied to the estimated yield.
: ~$1,508 / year (2023-24)About 32% above the NSW council average of ~$1,140 for the same year (OLG time-series data). The OLG's 2024-25 time-series records no average residential rate for Bland, so this is the latest published figure. Rate levels reflect land values and each council's rating structure, not service quality.
Domestic waste management charge (2025-26): $520.00 per 240-litre service ($411.00 for 120 litres)Levied on domestically occupied properties in West Wyalong, Wyalong, Ungarie, Barmedman and Weethalle where the service is available. A $45.00 annual charge applies to vacant land where the service is available, and to properties outside a serviced area. Source: Council's adopted 2025-26 Revenue Policy and Fees and Charges.
Other annual charges: Stormwater management $25 per residential property (towns only); sewer special rate where a service is availableThe stormwater charge applies only within Bland Shire's towns — rural and farming properties are not levied. Sewer rates fund the West Wyalong/Wyalong, Ungarie and Barmedman schemes; the 2025-26 minimums are $1,082 built-upon and $266 not built-upon.
Instalments: Four instalments — end of August, November, February and MayRates can be paid online (BPOINT), by BPAY, direct debit (quarterly on the instalment dates or monthly on the first of the month), Centrepay, at Council's office at 6 Shire Street or at any Australia Post branch. Rates enquiries: (02) 6979 0270.
Overdue interest (2026-27): 9.5% per annumA NSW-wide maximum set annually by the Minister for Local Government under the Local Government Act (Office of Local Government Circular 26-06, 15 May 2026: cash rate plus 6%, rounded to the nearest half per cent). Council's Revenue Policy states it applies the maximum rate set by the Minister.
Concessions: Eligible pensioners can receive a rebateUnder s575 of the Local Government Act: up to $250 on ordinary rates and domestic waste management charges, plus up to $87.50 on sewerage rates and charges. Apply online or on a paper form via Council's Council Rates page.
Special rate variation (SRV): None currently in forceBland was not among the councils whose special variation applications IPART determined on 2 June 2026, and Council's adopted 2025-26 Revenue Policy sets its ordinary rates on the ordinary rate peg. The ordinary IPART peg is what applies.
Why your bill moves: Land values, base date 1 July 2022Council uses Valuer General land values with a base date of 2022 for the 2025-26 ordinary rates; revaluations occur every three years for rating purposes. Land is rated in four categories — Farmland, Residential, Mining and Business. Council states it has not classified any land as Rural Residential.

The rate peg limits the council's total rates income, not each household's bill. How your individual rates change depends mostly on how your land value moved relative to other properties at the latest revaluation, and on which rating category your property falls into. The domestic waste, stormwater and sewer charges are separate annual charges and are not capped by the rate peg.

Sources — check it yourself

Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.