Rates

Overview

For the 2026/27 financial year, Council has introduced a new differential rating category titled:

General Rate – Primary Production MPN/N/SE Zone

Properties within this category are identified on the basis of their Primary Production land use and their location within selected Masterplanned Neighbourhood (MPN), Neighbourhood (N) or Strategic Employment (SE) planning zones where Council has determined there is a strong alignment with the purposes of locality-based differential rating.

If your rates notice includes:

General Rate – Primary Production MPN/N/SE Zone
Rate in the $: 0.007500

you may consider applying to Council for a discretionary rate rebate after reading the information below.

Background

Council has historically applied differential rates according to land use only. During 2026, Council undertook a two-phase consultation process regarding the introduction of differential rates based on both land use and locality.

The consultation process included:

• Council consideration of policy options and rating scenarios;
• Direct mail correspondence to ratepayers likely to be affected;
• Publication of a dedicated consultation paper;
• Public notices in local newspapers;
• An online survey and written submission process;
• Public consultation through the Draft 2026/27 Annual Business Plan, Budget and Long Term Financial Plan; and
• A Public meeting where submissions could be heard by Council.

Following consultation, Council resolved to apply a higher differential rate to those localities considered to have a strong alignment with the purposes of the proposal.

The purposes considered by Council included:

1. Planning alignment and development timing
   
   Encouraging land to transition towards the intended use envisaged by the Planning and Design Code where development opportunities exist.


2. Equity and service alignment
   
   Recognising that some Primary Production land situated within urban or employment areas may receive a level of access to infrastructure, services and amenity more comparable to surrounding urban land uses.


3. Funding planning and infrastructure coordination
   
   Assisting to fund planning, infrastructure and growth coordination activities that predominantly support these growth areas and are not fully recovered through fees and charges.

Discretionary Rebates

Council acknowledges that individual properties may have circumstances that differ from the broader locality in which they are situated.

For this reason, Council may consider a discretionary rebate where the circumstances of a particular property do not align with one or more of the purposes that supported the declaration of the higher differential rate.

Applications are considered by Council on their individual merits.

A discretionary rebate may be granted under the Council's powers contained within Section 166 of the Local Government Act 1999, including the Council's powers to grant rebates of rates and consider individual circumstances.

Approval of a rebate is not automatic and each application will be assessed on the information provided by the landowner and any other relevant matters Council considers appropriate.

Circumstances Council May Consider

While each application will be assessed on its merits, matters that Council may consider include whether:

• the land continues to be genuinely and actively used for Primary Production purposes;
• development of the land is constrained by factors outside of the landowner's control;
• the land is affected by significant infrastructure constraints such as:
• potable water;
• wastewater;
• power supply; or
• other trunk infrastructure requirements;
• development is economically or practically viable in the foreseeable future;
• the circumstances of the property differ materially from the broader locality; and

Any other matter Council considers relevant to the application.

How to Apply

Ratepayers should apply for a discretionary rebate as soon as possible after receiving their annual rates notice, within 60 days of the first notice for the financial year.

Council may still consider applications received after this period where circumstances warrant.

Applications must be made in writing and addressed to:

Senior Rates Officer
Light Regional Council
PO Box 72
Kapunda SA 5373

or by email to:

rates@light.sa.gov.au

Applications should include:

• The property address;
• Assessment number(s);
• Applicant contact details;
• The reasons a rebate is being requested;
• An explanation of how the property's circumstances do not align with the purposes supporting the increased differential rate; and
• Copies of any supporting evidence Council should consider.

Examples of supporting evidence may include:

• Correspondence from utility providers (e.g. SA Water, electricity providers);
• Development approval documents or conditions;
• Infrastructure staging plans;
• Planning or engineering reports;
• Business or operational information relevant to the ongoing Primary Production use of the land; or
• Any other information the applicant believes Council should consider.

Assessment Process

Once an application is received:

1. Council Administration will review the application and may request additional information if required.
2. The application will be assessed against the matters raised by the applicant and any supporting evidence provided.
3. Administration will prepare a report to the next available Ordinary Council Meeting.
4. Council will consider the application and determine whether:
   1. a rebate should be granted;
   2. a rebate should be refused; or
   3. further information is required.
5. The applicant will be advised of Council's decision in writing.
6. If approved, the rebate will be applied to the relevant rates account.

Rates while an application is under consideration

The lodging of a discretionary rebate application does not automatically postpone or defer payment of rates.

However, where a rebate application has been received and is currently under consideration by Council:

• Council will generally place recovery action on hold until Council has considered the application;
• Any applicable fines or interest that would otherwise accrue during the assessment period may be temporarily placed on hold pending Council's decision; and
• Ratepayers experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact Council to discuss appropriate payment arrangements.

Applicants will be advised if any alternative arrangements are required while their application is being assessed.

How a rebate may be applied

The amount of any rebate approved by Council will depend on the circumstances of the individual property and Council's assessment of the application.

In general and for guidance only, where Council is satisfied that a discretionary rebate is warranted, the rebate would typically reduce the rates payable for:

• Properties located within Employment-related zones (SE) to the Primary Production rate-in-the-dollar; and
• Properties located within Residential and Township-related zones (MPN or N) to the Residential rate-in-the-dollar

Council may also determine that:

• a partial rebate is appropriate;
• a rebate applies for a specified period only; or
• conditions are attached to the rebate.

The extent of any rebate remains at the discretion of Council and will be determined on the merits of each application.

Questions?

For enquiries regarding your land use classification, differential rating category, or the rebate application process, please contact Council's Rates Team:

Phone: (08) 8525 3200
Email:rates@light.sa.gov.au

Council encourages ratepayers to contact the Rates Team before lodging an application if they are unsure whether their circumstances may warrant consideration for a discretionary rebate.

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Under Section 181(14) of the Local Government Act 1999, Councils must provide the opportunity for all ratepayers to pay rates by quarterly instalments.

• Quarter 1 - Friday 4^th September 2026
• Quarter 2 - Friday 4^th December 2026
• Quarter 3 - Friday 5^th March 2027
• Quarter 4 - Friday 4^th June 2027

Accounts may be paid annually in advance by remitting the full year’s balance by the 1st Quarter due date. Part Payments of each quarter may be made at any time provided that the full quarterly amount is paid by the due date.

Please note, electronic payment or transfer of funds can take 2 business days to process.

Have your details changed? Contact Us to let us know.

The Local Government Act 1999 provides that Councils impose an initial 2% fine- penalty on quarterly payments that are received late. All arrears / overdue rates that remain outstanding at the end of each monthly cycle are charged an interest rate, according to the Cash Advance Debenture Rate (CADR) issued from the Local Government Finance Authority (LGFA), as at 1^st July each year.

Council issues an overdue notice where arrears are more than $20 during the months of September, December, March and June of each year. Should rates remain unpaid more than 21 days after the issue of the reminder notice then Council will review the debt for debt recovery action as per Council's Debtor Management Policy. If the account is referred to Council's debt collection agency (ARMA) collection fees and court costs are recoverable from the ratepayer. All costs incurred by Council in the recovery of outstanding rates and fines are payable by the ratepayer.

When Council receives a payment in respect of overdue rates, Council applies the money received as follows:

1. Payment of any costs awarded to, or recoverable by, the Council in any court proceedings undertaken by the Council for the recovery of the rates;
2. Satisfaction for any liability for interest;
3. Payment of any fine;
4. Satisfaction of liabilities for rates in the order in which those liabilities arose in payment of rates, in date order of their imposition (starting with the oldest account first).

Any ratepayer who is experiencing, or is likely to experience, difficulty meeting the standard rate instalment payments is encouraged to review Council's Rates Relief and Hardship Policy (excluding Water Policy Requirements) and complete the Application for Rate Relief Due to Hardship or Extenuating Circumstances form. Ratepayers are also invited to contact Council's Senior Rates Officer on (08) 8525 3200 to discuss alternative payment arrangements. All enquiries are treated confidentially by Council.

Postponement of Rates - Seniors

Ratepayers who hold a State Seniors card (or who are eligible to hold a State Seniors card and have applied for one) are able to apply to Council to postpone a payment of rates on their principal place of residence. Postponed rates remain as a charge on the land are not required to be repaid until the property is sold or disposed of. Interest will accrue on the amount of rates postponed at the prescribed rate per month (applied with respect to the amount postponed and compounded on a monthly basis) until the amount is paid. For more information, refer to the Postponement Information Sheet or complete and upload the Postponement of Rates Application form to Contact Us.

Cost of Living Concession

To check your eligibility for State Government Concessions please call the Concessions SA Hotline on 1800 307 758 or visit their website. Should you be eligible for a State Government funded concession this will be paid directly to you by the Department of Human Services and is not provided via your rates notice.

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