You can now have your rate notice conveniently delivered electronically to any computer or device.
Please refer to the 'How to Guide' for details or simply register here.
First instalment rate notices for 2025/2026 will be posted out in early August 2025 to all ratepayers of the City of Mount Gambier. If you do not receive your notice please contact Council’s Rates Office by phoning 8721 2561 or emailing city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
Ratepayers can chose to pay rates in either four quarterly instalments or in one annual amount.
Quarterly instalments are payable on or before:First quarter - Friday 5 September 2025Second quarter - Friday 5 December 2025Third quarter - Friday 6 March 2026Fourth quarter - Friday 5 June 2026
When paying by instalments, Council will send out separate instalment notices approximately 30 days prior to each payment due date.
Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact Rates Office by phoning 08 8721 2561 at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.
As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Such enquiries are treated confidentially.
If you do not receive your notice please contact Council’s rates office by phoning 8721 2561 or email city@mountgambier.sa.gov.au, or use the Rates Enquiry Form.
Council advises that pursuant to the Local Government Act 1999 it is the ratepayers responsibility to lodge their rate payments with Council prior to the prescribed date. Fines and/or interest apply for payments not received at the Council by the due date.
Rates may be paid using one of the following methods:
Checking your current outstanding rates balance is easy.
You can then proceed to make a payment if you wish.
Many ratepayers have already taken the opportunity to make/set up regular payments. Council offers you a number of convenient ways to pay your rates including direct debit. See the questions and answers above and below for further details.
Arrange to have a fortnightly or quarterly payment deducted from either your cheque or savings account.
Download the direct debit request form and return the completed form to Council by:
Fortnightly payments are processed on Tuesday each fortnight. Please contact the Rates office for further details on the next deduction date by phoning 8721 2561.
If processing day of 'Tuesday fortnight' does not suit, ratepayers are encouraged to contact their bank to set up ongoing Bpay payments on days which better suit their needs.
Quarterly payments are processed on the 'rates due date' of each quarter. Rate notices continue to be issued to ratepayers.
It is the ratepayer's responsibility to ensure there are sufficient clear funds available in their bank account to allow a direct debit payment to be made in accordance with the direct debit request. City of Mount Gambier will recover all fees and charges resulting from dishonoured or returned debits.
From July 1, 2015 the State Government elected to replace the concession on Council Rates with the 'Cost of Living Concession' provided directly to those entitled. The Cost of living Concession helps those on low or fixed incomes with any of their cost of living expenses, including offsetting Council Rates.
Applications can be made between 1 July and 31 October each year.
To check eligibility and obtain application forms, contact the Department for Communities & Social Inclusions Hotline 1800 307 758 or www.sa.gov.au and search cost of living concession.
Council is committed to supporting our community during challenging times. If you are having difficulty keeping up with your rate payments, please contact us as soon as possible for a confidential discussion. We are here to help and can work with you to arrange a flexible payment plan tailored to your circumstances.
Council encourages ratepayers who are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to meet the standard rate payment arrangement to contact the Rates office by phoning (08) 8721 2555 (option 1) at the earliest opportunity to discuss options for alternative payment arrangements.
If alternative payment arrangements are not agreed upon, or if alternative arrangements are not adhered to, Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency without further notice being provided. The debt collection agency’s fees and charges are recoverable from the ratepayer.
Please note that fines and/or interest still apply for late payments.
Unless alternative arrangements have been made, rate payments must be received on or before the due date shown on the rates notice.
Please note:
Any changes to your mailing address for the delivery of the rate notice must be made in writing. Changes can only be made by the property owner or ratepayer or someone granted with the authority to do so by the property owner.
When advising us or your change of address, you will need to provide the following details:
How to tell us:
Alternatively, submit your request online using our Rates Enquiry Form here.
You may object to the valuation referred to in your rates notice by writing, serve personally or by post on the Valuer-General within 60 days after the date of the service of the rates notice.
But note:
The Valuer-General may extend the 60-day objection period where it be shown there is reasonable cause to do so by a person entitled to make an objection to a valuation. A written objection to valuation must set out the full and detailed grounds for objection, including any supporting information.
Differential General Rates imposed by the Council are based on various Land Use Categories. These Land Use Categories are advised to Council by the Valuer-General. Should you have any reason to believe that the Land Use Category applied to your account is incorrect, you may lodge a written objection with Council outlining the grounds upon which your objection is based. Objections must be submitted to Council within 60 days of receiving rate notice. If you have previously received a notice or notices under the Local Government Act 1999 referring to the Land Use and informing you of a 60 day objection period, the objection period is 60 days after service of the first such notice;
The Council may at its discretion, allow an extension of time if a person entitled to make an objection shows that there is reasonable cause to do so.
Rates are still due and payable by the due date even if an objection is lodged.
The City of Mount Gambier uses a combination of a fixed charge on every rateable property and a differential or variable rating system, based on land use.
Rate payments must be received on or before the due date shown on the rates notice.
As a matter of practice Council encourages ratepayers to communicate with Council to arrange a flexible approach to debt recovery. Payment arrangements can be negotiated weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Such enquiries are treated confidentially.
If alternative payment arrangements are not agreed upon or if alternative arrangements are not adhered to Council may refer the debt to a debt collection agency without further notice being provided. The debt collection agency’s fees and charges are recoverable from the ratepayer
The Valuer-General provides valuation data to Council. If you feel you valuation is incorrect an objection must be lodged with the Valuer General.
For details please refer to objection to valuation and/or land use above.
Waste management is one of the largest costs to the community and Council wishes to encourage ratepayers to consider their personal environmental impact and the associated costs. This service charge is intended to cover costs including bin collection, waste treatment and disposal and maintaining, improving, and replacing the service.
Rates office can be contacted by phoning City of Mount Gambier on 08 8721 2561 or emailing city@mountgambier.sa.gov.auEnquiries may be lodged via online rates enquiry form.Office hours during 9:00 am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
