March 28, 2024
Land values in Yarraman and Cooyar have doubled over the past three years, according to according to figures released this week by the Valuer-General.
On Thursday, the Valuer-General released 2025 land valuations for 14 council areas across Queensland, including Toowoomba and the South Burnett (see separate report).
In Cooyar, the median value has risen from $19,400 to $39,000; while Yarraman has risen from $41,500 to $83,000.
“A big spike on your land valuation from the Queensland Valuer-General does not automatically mean a big spike in your Council rates,” Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald said.
He said the TRC would use the legislative tools available to average valuations over two or three years and, where appropriate, apply rate caps to certain rating categories.
The new valuations take effect on June 30.
The 60-day objection period closes on May 26.
- External link: How To Lodge A Valuation Objection
| Locality | Previous Median Value (Oct 1, 2021) | New Median Value (Oct 1, 2024) | Change In Median Value | Number Of Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooyar | $19,400 | $39,000 | 101% | 70 |
| Yarraman | $41,500 | $83,000 | 100% | 553 |
- Information for other Toowoomba Regional Council area towns is available online
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Living in the South Burnett area, I recently received my valuation.
It’s gone from $160,000 to $250,000. I certainly HOPE that, come rate time, Kingaroy Council remembers NOT all of us on 40 acres are “millionaire Sydney COVID tree changers” but instead are long-term country residents with low incomes or pensions.
The promise of “spreading it over three years” is useless. Rates already take 20% of my pension, and with this increase that will move to over 25%.
The recent pension rise of $8 a month will add less than $100 this year… maybe I can afford a block of chocolate each month but certainly NOT a big rate rise.
It will be interesting to see how a Mayor who got in on “keeping rates affordable” handles this situation.
As to renters… I’m sure that any rise will be passed along, so everyone gets hit hard.