Land valuations show rise

Queensland's Valuer-General has released the annual land valuations for properties in the Toowoomba Regional Council local government area.

Valuer-General Neil Bray said the valuations reflected land values on October 1, 2013 and showed Toowoomba Regional Council area's land values had increased by 8.4 per cent overall since the last valuation issued in 2012.

“Land values have generally increased within the City of Toowoomba since the last valuation, with variable movements in some market sectors and localities throughout the balance of the local government area,” he said.

“Residential values have generally moderately risen throughout the city of Toowoomba and Highfields reflecting the city's positive economy.

“The towns of Pittsworth and Crows Nest have seen a small increase in residential values while sales within the small towns of Hampton and Cooyar have shown large increases where the median value in Cooyar increased from $14,800 to $25,000.

“Generally small increases have occurred within the commercial suburban areas and parts of the fringes of the CBD of Toowoomba City and the commercial and industrial properties within the town of Pittsworth.

“Rural residential properties within the localities south of Toowoomba City have seen generally small increases in value while rural land values throughout the local government area were stable.”

Mr Bray said new technology had allowed access to more information than ever before about land valuations.

“The Land Valuations Globe through the Queensland Globe on Google Earth will give landowners unprecedented access to information including the spatial representation of the valuation, valuation dates, the ability to search by property identification number and a real property description and all on a satellite imagery background that allows users to zoom in right down to property level,’’ he said.

“This is a first for Queensland and landowners can take advantage by accessing Queensland Globe on the Department of Natural Resources and Mines website – www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/mapping -data/queensland-globe.

“Landowners can also have future valuation notices and other valuation information sent to them by email by visiting www.dnrm.qld.gov.au or calling 1300 664 217.’’

Mr Bray said it was important that landowners realised that valuation notices were not rate notices. “Rates are set under the Local Government Act 2009 and are determined by local government authorities,’’ he said. “The setting of rates is based on a number of factors – valuations are only one of those factors.’’

Mr Bray said landowners who believed their valuation was incorrect, and could provide information to support this, could lodge their objection online at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au or at the address shown at the top of their valuation notice by May 12, 2014. “Landowners without internet access can get an objection kit that includes a step-by-step guide by phoning the toll free number 1300 664 217,’’ he said.

“The Land Valuations Globe, the list of Queensland's statutory land valuations in a searchable table format, interactive maps that include market tables for major residential localities and a rural sales map can be viewed online at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au until June 10, 2014 – allowing landowners to compare their valuations with others in their area.

“A hard copy of the valuation list for the Toowoomba Regional Council area can be viewed at the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 203 Tor Street, Toowoomba during normal business hours until close of business on 10 June 2014.’’ For more information visit www.dnrm.qld.gov.au or call 1300 664 217.

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