Rates relief

Council’s remission policy (2023) allows Council, at its discretion, to provide rates remission to assist ratepayers of rating units where the land or primary dwellings/buildings have been detrimentally affected by natural disaster rendering dwellings/buildings uninhabitable, or affecting the use and income derived, of the land, and which directly affects their ability to pay rates.

For red-stickered properties the remission has been automatically applied to each rates instalment for a period of two years, or earlier if the primary dwellings/ buildings were deemed by Council to be able to become useable/habitable.

For properties with a yellow sticker, property owners are asked to complete an application form and Council will have the ability to apply the remission for two years or less depending on whether circumstances changed.

• For a remission to be granted, the yellow sticker must be on the main dwelling/building on the property (i.e. primary residence).
• If the main dwelling/building is useable (white or no sticker) but a yellow sticker has been applied to another building(s) on the property (i.e. workshop, storage unit, sleepout, cabin etc.), rates will not be remitted however payment can be postponed for a period of time, determined between Council and the applicant (but no later than 30 June 2025).

Once the remission has been approved, you do not need to reapply.

People can also apply for a remission, for a period of up to two years, for severely eroded or impacted properties, including those with crop or pasture damage, where the land has become unusable or uneconomic. Further information required to support the application would include photos of damage and expectations of how long the land is likely to be unusable.

Once the application is received, Council’s rates team may need to contact the applicant to request further information. The application form is available from Council offices or can filled in online, see below.

Rates relief application form

If your property has received a yellow sticker, or your land has become unusable or uneconomic due to damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, you may be eligible for rates relief.

Relief available

The Council may provide remission up to 100% of rates and current penalties, for a period of 2 years, or earlier if the land is deemed by Council to be usable. 

Qualifying criteria (important)

To qualify for this rates relief, the property either must have been officially yellow stickered by Council or the land has been severely damaged or eroded, including those with crop or pasture damage, and the land has become unusable or uneconomic.

For a remission to be granted on yellow stickered properties, the yellow sticker must be on the main dwelling/building on the property (i.e. primary residence). Properties that have been deemed uninhabitable (red stickered) are being granted a rates remission and completion of the form isn't required.

If the main dwelling/building is useable (white/no sticker) but a yellow sticker has been applied to another building(s) on the property (i.e. workshop, storage unit, sleepout, cabin etc.), rates will not be remitted however rates can be postponed for a period, determined between Council and the applicant (but no later than 30 June 2025).

For land that has been damaged, applications will need to include the following information:

• Is the damage to just land, just crops or land and crops;
• The portion of land on the property damaged and unusable i.e. whole or part – if only part of the property, please provide an approximate % of the total property size affected;
• Economic impact details (financial impact);
• Expectations of how long land is likely to be unusable;
• Photos of damage.

Please complete the online application form below or click here to download a pdf copy.