Council rates hike outrage

Property valuations on the rise

GEELONG ratepayers have hit out at the council over ballooning rates notices, with property assessments more than doubling the value of some properties.

But the City of Greater Geelong said there were simply some winners and some losers when it came to rates, with the total combined rates rise for the city within the State Government-imposed cap of 2.5 per cent.

The council recently referred a complaint from property owner Gary Kerr to the Valuer-General Victoria after the valuation of his Melbourne Rd property exploded from $1.2 million to $2.7 million in just 12 months.

Mr Kerr hit out at the “exorbitant” increase.

“I couldn’t believe what I saw, the amount they went up,” he said. “It’s revenue boosting, that’s all it is.”

The property owner also saw a 10 per cent rise in rates for a vacant lot used as a car park in North Geelong, which followed a 30 per cent rates rise in his 2018-19 notice.

Geelong Advertiser readers have also criticised rates jumps in recent weeks.

“My capital improved valuation has increased by 45.83 per cent in one year,” John McClay said in a letter to the Addy. “This, in the year CoreLogic reported a 6.25 per cent drop in house values in East Geelong — my suburb.

“As a consequence, my rates have gone up 24 per cent in one year.”

Drysdale’s Wendy Hein saw a 12 per cent rise in her rates, prompting her to question why it was above the government cap.

“So much for the rates cap that the State Government introduced, as it seems councils are totally ignoring the cap and slugging us with impunity,” she said.

Geelong customer and corporate services director Michael Dugina said the council had received just 95 formal objections to property valuations in 2019-20 rates notices — just 0.07 per cent of the CoGG’s rateable properties.

Mr Dugina said the total combined general rates increase was within the government cap.

“Individual rates notices are affected by fluctuations in the value of all properties across the municipality,” he said.

“If your residential property rose in value by more than the average (13.1 per cent), your rate increase may be higher than the 2.5 per cent rates cap.

“On the other hand, land owners with lower-than-average increases could expect to see a decrease in their rates.”

Property revaluations are conducted annually by the Valuer-General Victoria.