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Rates & fees

Rates & fees

Rates are one of the main ways 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. Carrathool's rate notice combines a general rate (a base amount for your category plus a rate in the dollar on the Valuer General's land value) with service charges for water, sewer and waste. Here's the current figure, how it compares across NSW, 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

3.7%IPART's rate peg for Carrathool for 2026–27 — a base cost change of 3.0% plus small ESL, productivity and election-cost adjustments giving a core peg of 3.7%, with no additional population factor. Council adopted the 3.7% peg in its 2026/27 Operational Plan. It caps the council's total rates income, not your individual bill.
4.0%Set by IPART — a base cost change of 3.6% plus adjustments, with no population factor.
~$510 / year (2024–25)About 58% below the NSW average of ~$1,203 (OLG data). Rate levels reflect land values and a council's rating structure; they are not a measure of service levels.
Minimum rates (2026–27)
$445 residential · $600 business and farmlandEvery rateable property pays at least the minimum for its category, plus the rate in the dollar on its land value above that. The 2026/27 valuations have a base date of 1 July 2025.
When to pay
In full by 31 August, or four instalments: 31 Aug, 30 Nov, 28 Feb, 31 MayRates notices are issued in July; if you don't pay in full, Council sends a reminder notice each quarter. Payment by BPAY, in person at a council office, or by mail.
Overdue interest (2026–27)
9.5% per annum, calculated dailyA NSW-wide statutory maximum set annually by the Minister for Local Government; Council resolved on 23 June 2026 to charge the maximum 9.5% for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Note that the narrative section of Council's own 2026/27 Operational Plan still carries the previous year's 10.5% figure — the resolution and the plan's fees and charges schedule both say 9.5%, matching the Minister's determination.
Concessions
Pensioner rebate up to $250, plus $175 where Council supplies water and sewerFor holders of a pension concession card, or War Widows / TPI pensioners, who live at the rated property. Applications are confirmed with Centrelink and must be re-lodged if you move. Council also publishes a hardship assistance process.
Waste charges (separate from the peg)
$370 garbage collection + $240 tipping charge (2026–27)Both appear on the rates notice and are not capped by the rate peg. A 'Rural Tipping Charge Exemption' form is available for properties that don't use the tips.
Special rate variation (SRV)
None currently in forceCouncil's 2026/27 Operational Plan applies the ordinary IPART peg only and records no approved special variation. IPART's 2 June 2026 special-variation determinations did not include Carrathool.

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 category (residential, business or farmland) your property sits in. Objections to a land value go to the Valuer General, not to Council — but the rates still have to be paid by the due date while an objection is pending.

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.