Frequently asked questions

Rates are a property-based tax, not a direct user charge for services received. Councils have a responsibility to provide access to services and infrastructure for the public benefit of all. The choice not to use Council services or infrastructure does not remove the obligation on property owners to pay their share of rates.

Rates and charges assist in providing a range of services, including road construction and maintenance, recreation and community facilities, libraries, swimming pools, parks and gardens, children and family services, waste management services, town planning, environmental health, economic development and tourism, communications and customer services.

Rates and charges are determined through the Annual Budget.

You can pay your rates:

• Online at www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/payingyourrates  
• By direct debit
• In person at our Customer Service Centre, 22 Nolan Street, Maryborough
• Or by calling us on 5461 0610

Rates can either be paid in full (by 15 February 2026) or by four instalments:

• First instalment: 30 September, 2025
• Second instalment: 30 November, 2025
• Third instalment: 28 February, 2026
• Fourth instalment: 31 May, 2026

You must notify us of a change of address in writing. You can complete the online form at www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/changeofaddress  or visit our Customer Service team at 22 Nolan Street, Maryborough to fill out a form. 

Rate cap for financial year 2025-2026 is set at 3% by the Minister where the total rate raise for the financial year can only increase up to maximum 3%.

The Shire has eight differential rates as shown in the table below:

• Above was adopted in Financial Year Budget 25-26 : Budget and Revenue and Rating Plan | Engage Central Goldfields Shire Council

Example of the general rates calculation for a resident property in Maryborough with a valuation of $300,000 would be: $300,000 x $0.003270 - $981 (excluding waste charges, Municipal Charge and Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund).

The Valuer General of Victoria (VGV) is the Victorian Governments authority on statutory valuations.  

Council has no jurisdiction over valuing residential properties for rates purposes.

The Local Government Act 2020 and the Valuation of Land Act 1960 require all properties in Victoria to be revalued each year. The valuation on your rates notice for the 2025/2026 financial year is based on the value of the property as at 1 January 2025. 

No, we do not collect extra revenue as a result of the revaluation process. The total combined rates revenue remains the same.

The Victorian Government introduced a rate cap which limits the revenue councils can raise. Increased valuations may mean an individual property is rated higher, but this is set by other properties which are rated lower. 

Valuations are carried out by professional valuers who undertake this work under contract with the Valuer General. This is a state-wide process. Properties are assessed according to the Valuer-General Victoria Best Practice guidelines.

For more information visit: www.propertyandlandtitles.vic.gov.au

There are a number of reasons as to why your property valuation has changed. These may include the following:

• improvements to your property
• higher sales figures in the area which increases the value of your property 
• consolidation of land and increased dwellings affect property values
• improvements to the area such as local developments

If you do not agree with the valuation of your property as listed on your rate notice you can lodge an objection with the Valuer General Victoria.

Objections must be lodged within two months of the date of issue on your rates notice.

Objections to Council rate notices must use the prescribed objection form or can be lodged online through the online objections portal. You will require a copy of your rates notice to be able to object online.

If you have lodged an objection, you must continue paying your rates and charges until your objection is resolved as per the payment dates listed on your rates notice.  This will ensure interest is not charged.

Queries about valuations and objections can be discussed with Council by calling us on 5461 0610. 

In 2015, The Fair Go Rates system to cap rates was introduced to limit the amount of revenue increases a council can levy through rates.

Each year the Minister for Local Government sets a cap on rate increases based on that period’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and advice from the Essential Services Commission (ESC). 
 
For the 2025-2026 financial year, council rate rises have been capped at 3%. 

The 3% rates increase does not apply to the rates for an individual property but is applied to the total amount of general rates that Council will collect. The total rates amount is divided by the total value of property within the Shire to give a rate in the dollar. The rate is then multiplied by the Capital Improved Value (CIV) of your property to calculate your general rates charge.

The overall rates revenue collected by council cannot exceed the rate cap. However, the amount each property owner pays is calculated based on the value of their property. Some rate payers will pay less than the rate cap, others will pay more. However, the overall rates collected by Council will not exceed the rate cap unless they are granted an exemption.

The three valuations shown on your rates notice are Site Value (SV), Capital Improved Value (CIV) and the Net Annual Value (NAV).

• SV – Site Value is the market value of the land only

• CIV – Capital Improved Value is the total value of property as determined by Council’s valuers

• NAV – Net Annual Value is either ve per cent of the CIV or the current value of a property’s net annual rental

If you don’t agree with the valuation, you can contact Council on 5461 0610  to discuss and try to resolve your valuation questions before lodging an objection.

The municipal charge for 2025-2026 is $202. This charge is to recover part of the fixed costs of Council's operations. 

All property owners pay the same fee regardless of their individual property valuations. 

The flat charge per property is increased by the rate cap each year. 

Ratepayers with multiple properties only pay one municipal charge. 

This year your rate notice includes the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) which is a new Victorian Government levy (replacing the Fire Services Property Levy).

The local government sector has been advocating for the levy to be collected by the State Revenue Office, not Council. These efforts have been unsuccessful and unfortunately, you will see the levy itemised on your rates bill, even though it is not a Council charge.

We have heard the suggestions to “just don’t pay the new tax”. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Councils are obligated to collect the levy and cannot use a separate invoice to collect the levy. Also, Council must proportionally allocate rates revenue towards the levy if ratepayers choose not to pay the levy element on their rates notice.

For example, if your rates are $3,000, and the levy is $500 and if the property owner pays only the $3,000 rate component, Council collects $2,550 (roughly 85% of payment in this example) and the $450 balance goes off to the Government for the ESVF. We know that will be significantly more for many ratepayers. Plus, your rates notice will still be in arrears.

Unfortunately, ratepayers who refuse to pay the levy may cause financial strain on councils across the state. It may also be subject to Council’s debt collecting processes.

Eligible volunteers from the CFA and VICSES will be able to claim a rebate for the ESVF payable on their Principle Place of Residence (PPR) or a farm they own, even if the farm is not their PPR.

If you believe you are entitled to the eligible volunteers rebate, please contact the Department of Government Services (DGS).

If you have questions or feedback on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund please email esvf@dft.vic.gov.au or call the ESVF hotline on 1300 819 033

Our Waste Service Charge is separated from general rates to ensure that waste charges are aligned with the actual costs of delivering waste services.

Our waste service costs are increasing each year and in 2025-2026 will be heavily impacted by a 27.9 per cent increase in the Victorian Government Municipal Landfill Levy.

This levy is paid through the landfill gate fees when waste from our kerbside or transfer stations is disposed of to landfill. The landfill operator passes this levy on to the Victorian Government.

The total Landfill Levy, including the increase, equates to $43.18 per ratepayer.

We understand that some individuals and businesses may experience financial hardship on a short or long term basis.

We are committed to supporting our community through these times. Options include payment plans, waiver of interest and legal fees or deferment of rates. This is by application only and requires satisfactory evidence of financial hardship.

To find out more visit: www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/ratepaymentassistance

If you hold a Centrelink issued Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Aairs issued Pensioner Concession Card, War Widow Gold Card or TPI Gold Card, you may be eligible to claim a $266 concession on your rates. This is in addition to the Victorian Government Rebate of $50 for the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund. A health care card is not an eligible card to receive a concession. For more information contact our Customer Service team on 5461 0610.