State Government Concession

If you are a holder of a pensioner concession card, DVA gold card, low income health care card or commonwealth senior health card you may be eligible to receive the Cost of Living Concession through the State Government. The Cost of Living Concession replaced the council rate concession and is intended to help those on low or fixed incomes with their cost of living expenses, such as council rates.

To check your eligibility, you can contact concessions SA on 1800 307 758 or visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions

Mandatory Rebates

The Local Government Act requires Councils to rebate the rates payable for certain land uses. This includes land used for health and community services, religious purposes, cemeteries and educational institutions. The rebates vary from 75% to 100% and are automatically applied, you need not apply.

If you are not currently getting a mandatory rebate but believe you may be eligible, please contact Council to discuss on 8580 3000.

Discretionary Rebates

The Local Government Act also allows Council’s to grant discretionary rate rebates in certain circumstances. All discretionary rate rebates are only considered upon receipt of an application by 30 April for consideration in the following financial year.

If you wish to apply for a discretionary rebate, please use the Rate Rebate Application Form.

For further information on Discretionary Rate Rebates please view Council’s Rate Rebate Policy.

All applications for discretionary rate rebates are considered on a case by case basis and on their own individual merits.

Single Farm Enterprise Rebate

If you own two or more pieces of land in which the Land Use is Primary Production, you may be eligible for the Single Farm Enterprise Rebate.

Single Farm Enterprise means land which is used wholly or mainly for the business of primary production as a single enterprise and is occupied by the same person or persons. The land that constitutes the Single Farm Enterprise need not be adjoining parcels of land.

If you wish to apply for a Single Farm Enterprise Rebate, please use the Single Farm Enterprise Application Form.

Postponement of Rates - Seniors

An application may be made to Council for a postponement of the payment of any amount of rates in excess of $500.00, for the current or a future financial year by:

1. A ratepayer who holds a current State Seniors Card issued by the State Government, (prescribed ratepayer) or spouse of a prescribed ratepayer, and
2. Where the rates are payable on the principal place of residence, and
3. Where the land is owned by the prescribed ratepayer, or the prescribed ratepayer and his or her spouse, and no other person has an interest, as owner, in the land.

Any rates which are postponed will become due and payable:

1. When the title to the land is transferred to another person; or
2. There is a failure to comply with a condition of postponement

Interest will accrue on the amount postponed at the prescribed rate per month until the full amount is paid. Postponement is available as a right and can only be refused when the applicant/s has less than 50% equity in the property.

Postponement of  Rates - Hardship

Section 182 of the Local Government Act allows the Council, upon application from a ratepayer, to partially or wholly remit rates or to postpone rates, on the basis of hardship. Where a ratepayer is suffering hardship in paying rates they are invited to contact Council’s Rates and Property Officer to discuss the matter. These enquiries are always treated with the highest confidentiality.