About Your Rates

Council issues general rate notices twice a year, usually in July/August and January/February. These notices help fund the essential services, facilities, and infrastructure that support our community, from roads, parks and libraries to waste collection, water, sewerage, and disaster response.

To keep our region running smoothly, Council is required to raise revenue through rates and charges to maintain assets and provide services to the shire as a whole. These charges are based on a mix of factors including your property’s land valuation, the rating category it falls into, and the overall cost of delivering services across Livingstone Shire. For a full breakdown of how your rates are calculated, visit How are your rates calculated?

You have 30 days from the date of issue to pay your rates or enter into a payment arrangement. A 10% discount applies to most Council rates and charges when paid on time, except for charges listed as ineligible in Council’s Revenue Statement.

Council issues Water Usage Notices following the completion of each quarterly meter read. Notices are addressed to the owner of the property. Residents are encouraged to assist in making this process as efficient as possible by properly maintaining access to their water meter. Notices are issued quarterly, generally in January/February, April, July/August and October. You can find more information regarding water meters by clicking here.

  • Checking your current outstanding rates or water balance is easy.

    All you need to do is follow the steps below:

    1. Visit Online Services and register. To register, please use this link Livingstone Shire Council Rates Account Registration System. 
    2. Enter your reference number. Your reference number can be found on your rates notice as illustrated below.
    3. Your rates balance will now be displayed.

    You can then proceed to making a payment if you wish.

    How to find your reference number

    Your reference number can be found on the front page of your rate notice:
    How to find your reference number assessment number on rate notice

     

  • You can pay your rates in person at a customer service centre or Australia Post, online, by phone, or via direct debit.

    Learn more about paying your rates.

  • Council charges 7% interest per annum on overdue rates in accordance with section 133(3)(b) of the Local Government Regulation 2012. Interest compounds daily and will be charged at the end of each month.

  • In accordance with s 130 Local Government Regulation 2012, a discount at the rate of ten (10) percent will be allowed on gross Council rates and charges, excluding any charge specifically excluded from discount entitlement, provided payment of the full amount outstanding, including any overdue rates and interest to the date of payment, less any discount entitlement, is paid by the due date on original notice of the levy. 

    Charges excluded from discount entitlement include:

    • Rural Fire Levy
    • Emergency Services Levy
    • North West Emu Park Sewerage Benefited Area Special Charge
    • Causeway Township Sewerage Benefited Area Special Charge
    • Mulambin Sewerage Benefited Area Special Charge
    • Muskers Beach Revetment Wall – Special Charge
    • Water Consumption Charges
    • Natural Environment Separate Charge
    • Road Network Separate Charge
    • Disaster Response Separate Charge

  • If you are experiencing financial difficulties and cannot pay your notice by the due date, please contact our Customer Service Centre to avoid recovery action and associated costs. 

    You can also visit the MoneySmart website for more information or access Financial Councillors, or the Australian Government Services Australia website which has a variety of financial information, services and tools available.

    Agreements to Pay / Payment Plans (For Arrears Balances)

    Should you be experiencing difficulty paying your overdue rates and wish to discuss payment options or a payment plan please contact Customer Service and request the Revenue & Rates Team 1300 790 919.

  • You can now register to receive your rates and water notices by email.

    If you would like to receive your notices electronically, please click here to register for eNotices.

    To de-register from this service or change your email address you can use the same link and select “Cancel email delivery”. 
    To register or de-register you will need a recent rates notice to enter some security information for verification purposes and the original email address it was registered to.

  • In July 2025, Council introduced a new-look rate notice to make it clearer, more modern, and easier to read.

    This redesign brings you the same important information in a layout that’s simpler to follow.

    See the front and back of the new notice with section-by-section explanations at the link below.

    Your Rates Notice Explained

     

More about rates

  • The legislative authority and responsibilities of local governments are outlined by Federal Government as follows: 
    Local government in Australia's Federation
    Local government bodies have existed in Australia since the establishment of the Adelaide Corporation (now the City of Adelaide) in 1840. Across Australia, there are now about 560 local government bodies that promote local interests and deliver important services and infrastructure. These bodies are very diverse: the areas they cover range from less than a square kilometre to almost 380,000 square kilometres, and their populations range from a few hundred to more than 1 million.

    Local government is a legislative responsibility of the States and Territories and is recognised in the Constitution of each State. State parliaments determine the roles and responsibilities of local governments, and those responsibilities vary from State to State.

    Chapter 7 of the Constitution of Queensland 2001 notes the following in regard to the authority and responsibilities of local governments:

    Chapter 7 Local Government
    Part 1 System of local government
    Section 70 System of local government
    (1) There must be a system of local government in Queensland.
    (2) The system consists of a number of local governments.
    Section 71 Requirements for a local government
    (1) A local government is an elected body that is charged with the good rule and local government of a part of Queensland allocated to the body.

    The Local Government Act 2009, promulgated by the Queensland Parliament in terms of the Queensland Constitution, says the following:

    Chapter 2 Local Governments
    Part 1 Local governments and their constitution, responsibilities and powers
    Section 9 Powers of local governments generally
    (1) a local government has the power to do anything that is necessary or convenient for the good rule and local government of its local government area.

    Chapter 4 Finances and accountability
    Part 1 Rates and charges
    Section 94 Power to levy rates and charges
     (1) Each local government:
     (a) must levy general rates on all rateable land within the local government area; and
     (b) may levy:
     (i) special rates and charges; and
     (ii) utility charges; and
     (iii) separate rates and charges.

    Chapter 7 Other provisions Part 6 Other provisions Section 262 Powers in support of responsibilities
     (3) The powers include all the powers that an individual may exercise, including for example:
     (c) power to charge for a service or facility, other than a service or facility for which a cost-recovery fee may be fixed. Local Government Legitimacy and Rating Power

  • Local Government are required under Federal Legislation to have an ABN since its inception on 1 July 2000, as per A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999. Council’s current ABN was acquired with the formation of a new local government area for Livingstone Shire Council at deamalgamation in 2014. Further details can be found on www.legislation.gov.au.

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