Paddington Homeowners Face One of the Highest Rates Rise in Brisbane

Paddington homeowners have been hit with one of the highest rates increase in Brisbane or an additional $101.23 to their annual bill, as the average increase for owner-occupied properties increased by 2.5 percent.

Paddington will cop a 4.7 percent rates increase in the 2018-19 financial year which  amounts to an annual increase of $101.23 or $1.95 per week.

Seven Hills and Wakerley will have the highest rates increase in Brisbane, both at 5.80 percent or an extra $115.23 and $87.08 to the annual bill, respectively. Following Seven Hills and Wakerley are Robertson, Mansfield, Kenmore, and Auchenflower, which will face 5.4 percent increase. 

Chapel Hill, Upper Mount Gravatt, and Wishart will find their rates bill rise by 5.2%, 5%, and 4.9% respectively.

Paddington homeowners hit by council rates rise
Latrobe Tce, Paddington | Photo Credit: Orderinchaos [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)] / Wikimedia Commons

With the exception of nine, Brisbane suburbs will see an overall average rates increase of 2.5 percent, the same as last year and almost twice the current annual inflation rate of 1.5 percent. 

“We’ve kept the budget strong and balanced despite the impact of droughts and floods, through the Global Financial Crisis and through multiple property market cycles,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said in his budget speech.

“…today I confirm that in 2019-20 the average increase in rates for owner occupied residential properties will once again be 2.5 per cent.”

“For owner occupiers, this average rates increase equates to $10 per quarterly rates notice or $0.77 per week. The average increase to Council fees and charges will also be 2.5 per cent,” Cr Schrinner said.

Among the nine lucky suburbs to see rates decrease, Kangaroo Point homeowners will get the biggest drop with a 5.1 percent rate decrease or an annual savings of $86.38.

Ratepayers in these eight other suburbs will also expect to see drop in rates: Ransome and Willawong (-2.0%); Cowan Cowan (-1.7%); Bridgeman Downs, Bulwer, and Candler (-1.0%); Murarrie (-0.7%), and Westlake (-0.4%)