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What are we doing?
We’re taking a fresh look at how rates are shared across our district. This isn't about collecting more money overall. Instead, we want to figure out a better, more sustainable way to slice the "rates pie". How we can do things more equitably?
Think of council rates as a way of pooling resources. By everyone chipping in, we can all enjoy great shared services, such as roads, pools, and beautiful parks, that would all be far too expensive for anyone to fund on their own.
Why are we reviewing this now?
It's been a long time since we reviewed our rates system. Over the years, our district has grown, how we use our land has changed, and what we expect from local government has shifted. We want to make sure our new system is:
Equitable for everyone. We want a simple system that treats the whole district as one community, makes sense to everyone, and considers our vulnerable residents.
Ready for the future. With so many big changes happening in local government, we need a flexible system that can adapt easily.
What are we considering?
The biggest idea that we're exploring is how we calculate your rates. Currently we use land value, which only looks at what the land is worth. We are considering a shift to capital value, which includes the land plus any improvements or additions you've made, like buildings, houses, or commercial crops like fruit trees and grapevines.
Capital value as a means of calculating rates, has become the standard across most councils.
What does this mean for you?
Because everyone's property is different, this change will affect different types of properties in different ways. We really want you to get involved, find out more, and share your thoughts. There are lots of ways you can get involved beginning in late July or early August 2026:
Complete the online survey on this page (opening in late July or early August 2026)
Attend one of our community information sessions or drop-ins (watch this space for more information)
We’re taking a fresh look at how rates are shared across our district. This isn't about collecting more money overall. Instead, we want to figure out a better, more sustainable way to slice the "rates pie". How we can do things more equitably?
Think of council rates as a way of pooling resources. By everyone chipping in, we can all enjoy great shared services, such as roads, pools, and beautiful parks, that would all be far too expensive for anyone to fund on their own.
Why are we reviewing this now?
It's been a long time since we reviewed our rates system. Over the years, our district has grown, how we use our land has changed, and what we expect from local government has shifted. We want to make sure our new system is:
Equitable for everyone. We want a simple system that treats the whole district as one community, makes sense to everyone, and considers our vulnerable residents.
Ready for the future. With so many big changes happening in local government, we need a flexible system that can adapt easily.
What are we considering?
The biggest idea that we're exploring is how we calculate your rates. Currently we use land value, which only looks at what the land is worth. We are considering a shift to capital value, which includes the land plus any improvements or additions you've made, like buildings, houses, or commercial crops like fruit trees and grapevines.
Capital value as a means of calculating rates, has become the standard across most councils.
What does this mean for you?
Because everyone's property is different, this change will affect different types of properties in different ways. We really want you to get involved, find out more, and share your thoughts. There are lots of ways you can get involved beginning in late July or early August 2026:
Complete the online survey on this page (opening in late July or early August 2026)
Attend one of our community information sessions or drop-ins (watch this space for more information)
