2025 Review of the Basis of Rating

The City of Mount Gambier is reviewing how it collects rates from the community.

Rates are the main way Council pays for local services and infrastructure such as roads, parks, libraries, and waste collection. In fact, rates make up more than 60% of Council’s income in the 2025/26 budget.

To make sure our rating system is fair, up-to-date, and meets the needs and expectations of our growing and changing community, we’re taking a fresh look at how rates are set and shared across different types of properties.

Known as a rating review, this process considers how Council distributes the responsibility of rates amongst all ratepayers. It also looks at whether different types of property land use (such as residential, commercial, industrial, short-stay rental accommodation and primary production) should pay different rates, and why.

Importantly, this review does not evaluate the level of rates charged, the services provided by the Council or how much revenue from rates is raised. Its focus is to consider if the distribution of rates is equitable across our ratepayers while considering principles of taxation, strategic planning priorities and the changing profile of the community.

A range of materials have been developed to introduce the proposed changes. This includes:

• A Review of the Basis of Rating Consultation Paper and summary information sheet
• A Short-Stay Rental Accommodation information sheet focussing on the proposed changes to the rating of these properties

We invite you to:

1. Take a look at the Review of the Basis of Rating Consultation Paper and information sheets
2. Provide your feedback or comments via the digital submission form below
3. Consider registering to speak to your submission at a Special Public Meeting of Council (further details below).

Feedback must be received by 5pm Tuesday 18 November 2025 and can also be provided by :

• E-mail: city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
• Mail: City of Mount Gambier, PO Box 56, Mount Gambier SA 5290
• In person: Civic Centre, 10 Watson Tce, Mount Gambier.

Special Public Meeting

A Special Public Meeting of Council to allow respondents the opportunity to speak to their submission (should they wish to do so) has been scheduled for:

When: 5pm to 6pm, Tuesday 18 November 2025
Where: Mount Gambier Library

Community members interested in speaking to their submission must register by 4pm Thursday 13 November* by completing this form.

*Please note that, in the event that no registrations to speak to a submission have been received by the due date, the special public meeting will not be held.