Owners owing thousands in unpaid rates, some dating back 17 years, on notice

Property owners in South Australia’s Mid North have been called out for thousands of dollars in unpaid council rates, with some debts dating back nearly 17 years. 

The Northern Areas Council today advertised a public “demand” for the unpaid rates, which exceed $49,000 including legal fees.

One Gladstone resident owes more than $25,000 in fees which have been outstanding since September 2016.

Another Caltowie resident owes $7,000 in rates and legal fees which have been outstanding since December 2006.

The remainder of fees outstanding range between $2,800 and $4,700.

Northern Areas Counci chief executive Kelly Westell said of the five properties in debt, none were residential and included vacant land and an abandoned home.

“Under the Local Government Act, any council can sell properties when the rates have been in arrear for greater than three years,” Ms Westell said.

“We will do it, but we won’t include any properties that are principal places of residence for people.

“Council is very keen to ensure that no one is displaced through the process.”

The council said it had made multiple attempts to contact the five property owners, including with letters and fence post signs.

But it said its efforts had been unsuccessful.

The property owners now have 30 days to contact the council to discuss a payment plan or the property will be auctioned off.

The money from the sale will be used to recover the debt, and cost of sale, with the remainder to go to the property owner.

It comes a week after the Naracoorte Lucindale Council issued a separate public demand for more than $100,000 in unpaid rates.

Mayor Patrick Ross said the ratepayers had been approached multiple times for the debts.

Important social policy

Ms Westell said the fact the council wouldn’t kick residential tenants out with unpaid rates had not been a problem over the years.

“Council has a debt collection process which starts with somebody not paying rates, and our primary concern is trying to get people into a payment plan,” she said.

She said ratepayers unable to meet payments were offered a smaller bill or a deferred payment during times of hardship.

“If people are in a house, council will not push them out of a house, we are not going to sell property if there’s somebody living there,” she said.

“I think most people understand that the rates are a tax and that tax is required to deliver services in a community.

“Most people are willing to pay and most people want to ensure they are part of a community and paying their rates accordingly.”