Rates extension to help ease burden after floods

Townsville City Council has extended the payment date for all ratepayers by a month to Thursday, 4 April.

Ratepayers that make payment by 4 April will be eligible for the on-time discount.

Council is working with the Queensland Government to provide extra support to ratepayers directly impacted by the recent floods and will announce any further measures as soon as possible.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said Council understood the unprecedented floods would have a major financial impact on many ratepayers.

“Council is delaying payment due dates for rates to help alleviate some of the financial burden of the floods,” Cr Hill said.

“The clean up is still continuing and I don’t want people stressing about having to pay their rates bill while they are dealing with other matters such as insurance.

“Council will be working very closely with the Queensland Government to try and provide even more support to those ratepayers who were directly impacted by the floods.”

Governance and Finance Committee Chair Cr Verena Coombe said the rates extension would apply to all properties.

“Every ratepayer will have an extension on paying their rates because these floods have been unprecedented in our city’s history and the impact is right across our community,” Cr Coombe said.

“The extension include rates for residential and commercial properties because we know both residents and local businesses are doing it tough.”

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