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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. Here's the current figure for Walgett, 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

3.3%Set by IPART — a core peg of 3.0% plus small adjustment factors (ESL 0.2%, productivity 0.5%, catch-up −0.3%), with a population factor of 0.0%. Council's Annual Operational Plan confirms 3.3% and states Council is not currently levying any special rates. The peg caps the council's total rates income, not your individual bill.
4.2%IPART's rate peg for Walgett for 2025–26 — a base peg of 3.6% plus adjustments.
~$445 / year (2024–25)About 63% below the NSW average of ~$1,203 (OLG data). This reflects local land values and the rating structure — Council levies a base amount plus an ad valorem rate that differs by town and category.
When rates are due
In full by 31 August, or four instalments: 31 Aug, 30 Nov, 28 Feb, 31 MayPayment options include BPAY (biller code 626069), Australia Post Billpay, Centrepay, and in person at Walgett, Lightning Ridge or Collarenebri.
Overdue interest (2026–27)
9.5% per annumA NSW-wide maximum set annually by the Minister for Local Government under the Local Government Act (cash rate plus 6%, rounded to the nearest half per cent) and applied by every council to overdue rates instalments. Council's own 2026–27 fees and charges schedule lists 9.5%.
Concessions
Eligible pensioners: 50% of rates + domestic waste charge up to $250Plus 50% of water fixed and usage charges up to $87.50 and 50% of the sewerage fixed charge up to $87.50. You must hold a Pensioner Concession Card, a DVA gold card marked TPI or EDA, or be an eligible war widow/widower. Apply using the Pensioner Concession form on Council's rates pages — the concession is only granted from the year you apply.
Special rate variation (SRV)
None currently in forceCouncil's 2026–27 Annual Operational Plan states it is not levying any special rates, and Walgett was not among the councils whose special variation applications IPART determined on 2 June 2026. The ordinary rate peg applies.
Water, sewer and waste charges are separate
Not capped by the rate pegThe peg excludes water, sewer, waste management and stormwater charges. In August 2026 Council resolved to reduce the annual sewer access charge for Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri by $500 for 2026–27, recognising that those properties use small-diameter sewer with household septic systems rather than the conventional system in Walgett.

The rate peg limits the council's total rates income, not each household's bill. How your individual rates change depends mostly on your property's rating category (residential by town, business, farmland or preserved opal field) and on how your land value moved relative to other properties at the latest Valuer General revaluation. If you are having trouble paying, Council asks that you contact it before the due date to arrange a payment plan.

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.