Mayor puts forward solutions for better deal on land valuations

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart says she was disappointed with the outcome of her meeting with Queensland’s Natural Resources Minister where she raised residents’ concerns about massive land valuation increases. 

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart and Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig ventured to Brisbane to meet Minister Scott Stewart to discuss the unprecedented consecutive land valuation increases.

“Many in our community are still recovering from the devastating 2022 flood events so we put forward a few suggested solutions seeking the process to be reviewed to improve outcomes for councils and the community,” she said.

“This could involve the state collaborating closer with local councils on decisions to proceed with valuations and taking into account unprecedented situations impacting land valuations.”

Cr Stewart and Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig ventured to Brisbane last week to meet Minister Scott Stewart to discuss the unprecedented consecutive land valuation increases.

As land valuations are used by councils to calculate rates in Queensland, councillors and residents are concerned about the impact the doubling of valuations in some part of the shire will have.

“The Minister made it clear that there wasn’t much that could be done, however I encourage residents who feel aggrieved to lodge an objection to the Queensland Valuer Generals Office,” Cr Stewart said.

“It doesn’t make sense why we had to face another round of land valuations, particularly with the added pressure of the valuation occurring in an extremely volatile market.

“With the softening of property demand being experienced in the area, the state may need to subsequently reverse some of these increases in future years, indicating these increases may not have been necessary this year,” Cr Stewart said.

The average land valuation increase determined by the Queensland Valuer-General was 62 per cent.

But nearly 2000 properties across Noosa were hit with an increase in valuation above 100 per cent, a further 400 had a 200 per cent jump and 15 properties are above 300 per cent.

About 2000 properties in Noosa had a comparatively low valuation increase of under 30 per cent.

“It’s not just owners of properties in the more expensive areas facing increases, it’s homeowners right across the shire who have seen their land valuations jump,” Mayor Stewart said.

Cr Stewart said like the community, council is working in a heightened market with CPI at record levels.

“We are facing enormous challenges to keep rates increases below CPI levels and these valuations present even more difficulties for us to ensure equitable rating outcomes for every single property experiencing a valuation increase,” she said.