Rate Information

Council Rate Notices are levied half yearly. Separate Water Consumption Notices will be issued quarterly for the majority of non-residential customers and half yearly for the majority of residential customers.

Property owners should expect to receive their half yearly rate notices around August/September and February/March and will be provided 31 days from the date of issue to pay their rates.

Residential property owners should expect to receive their half yearly water consumption notices around January/February and July/August and will be provided 31 days from the date of issue to pay their notices. 

Non-Residential property owners should expect to receive their quarterly water consumption notices around October/November, January/February, April/May, and July/August and will be provided 31 days from the date of issue to pay their notices.

Specific information on rates and charges can be viewed in the following Council documents:

• Revenue Statement
• Concealed Water Leak Remission Policy

Supplementary notices may be issued to property owners at any time during the year.

Rates: First Half Levy (period 1 July to 31 December)

• Estimated issue date: August/September
• Estimated due date: September/October

Rates: Second Half Levy (period 1 January to 30 June)

• Estimated issue date: February/March
• Estimated due date: March/April

Residential Water Consumption Notice: First Half Levy (period 1 July to 31 December)

• Estimated issue date: January/February
• Estimated due date: February/March

Residential Water Consumption Notice: Second Half Levy (period 1 January to 30 June)

• Estimated issue date: July/August
• Estimated due date: August/September

Non-Residential Water Consumption Notice: First Quarter (period 1 July to 30 September)

• Estimated issue date: October/November
• Estimated due date: November/December

Non-Residential Water Consumption Notice: Second Quarter (period 1 October to 31 December)

• Estimated issue date: January/February
• Estimated due date: February/March

Non-Residential Water Consumption Notice: Third Quarter (period 1 January to 31 March)

• Estimated issue date: April/May
• Estimated due date: May/June

Non-Residential Water Consumption Notice: Fourth Quarter (period 1 April to 30 June)

• Estimated issue date: July/August
• Estimated due date: August/September

Tip Tokens Scheme Renewed for 2023-2024

Council has reviewed its process to distribute tip tokens to improve accessibility and utilisation of the scheme. Previously, tip tokens have been issued by Council in conjunction with the rates notices, often limiting access to the refuse facility as tokens have been lost, misplaced, or not made available to the tenants of rental properties.

Council now wishes to advise, that in lieu of physical tip tokens, residents can present their current rates notice or driver licence with a residential Mount Isa address to claim free residential refuse disposal from Monday 6 November 2023.

This can be accessed on six (6) occasions per residential property and will be valid until 30 June 2024.

The same conditions will apply as per the previous scheme; free entry into the waste management facility, valid only for domestic vehicles up to 1.99 tonne tare carrying domestic/residential waste. This includes:

• Cars
• Box trailers
• Vans
• Utilities

This means, a car towing a trailer, both carrying waste for disposal, would count as two allocated visits for that property.

Council's Waste Management Facility opening hours are:

• Monday to Friday - 7.30am - 4.45pm
• Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays Holidays - 7.30am - 4.45pm

Mount Isa City Council has introduced a simplified water charging methodology in line with best practice and State Government requirements.

From 1 July 2018 water charges are made up of two parts:

• Water Access Charge that appears on your rate notices half yearly; and
• A Consumption Charge that is provided on a separate water consumption notice issued either quarterly or half-yearly, and is based on the amount of water you use.

For further information on Council's water meter access and water consumption charges please refer to Council's Revenue Statement.

Leaks

Water Leaks that occur from water pipes and fittings on your side of the water meter are the responsibility of the Property Owner. One of the easiest ways to check to see whether you have a leak is by taking a water meter reading before leaving the house for a couple of hours, and taking another reading on your return.

When performing this test ensure you do not have the dishwasher, washing machine, watering system or evaporative air conditioning in use as these are using water and will be recorded through the meter.

On returning home the meter reading should not have changed. If the meter reading has increased (and you are certain that no water was used whilst absent) then this may be a sign that there is an internal leak and you should contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible. Any internal leaks and associated costs are the responsibility of the property owner. Council recognises concealed leaks can result in significant financial cost to the ratepayer, for further details on the concessions available and eligibility criteria please refer to Council's Concealed Water Leak Remission Policy.

Concealed Water Leaks

Council has adopted a Concealed Water Leak Remission Policy to assist ratepayers who experience financial hardship due to a concealed water leak on their property.

For further information on Council's Concealed Water Leak Remission Policy or if you would like to apply for a remission of water consumption charges due to a concealed water leak, please refer to the following:

• Concealed Water Leak Remission Policy
• Concealed Water Leak Remission Application Form

Applications can be submitted via the following:

Email: city@mountisa.qld.gov.au

In person: 23 West Street Mount Isa

Mail:

CEO 
Mount Isa City Council 
PO Box 815
Mount Isa QLD 4825

Please ensure all required supporting documentation is submitted with your application.

Faulty Water Meters

If you believe that your meter is reading inaccurately an accuracy test can be conducted. Please complete the Application for Water Meter Accuracy Test and submit your application to Council with the applicable fee. Refer to Council's Register of Cost Recovery Fees for applicable charges.

20mm and 25mm meters

Internal Test: Domestic 20mm and 25mm size meters are tested on site by a certified Council plumber.

20mm to 150mm meters

External Test: Domestic & Commercial sized meters are removed, sent away and tested by an independent body.

If your meter is to be found outside of the Australian Water Meter Standards, the following will occur:

• Your application fee will be refunded
• The water meter will be replaced at no cost to the owner
• Council will review your Water Consumption Notice

If your meter is to be found within the Australian Water Meter Standards, the following will occur:

• A final invoice will be issued covering any additional costs relating to:
  • Postage
  • Testing
  • Water meter replacement
  • Council labour and equipment

Your Water Consumption Notice will remain in effect.

Please contact Council if you require further assistance with lodging your application.

Charging Water to Tenants in Residential Properties

Water Notices are issued to the owner of the property, tenants will not be billed directly by Mount Isa City Council.

Council cannot offer any advice regarding charging water to tenants, please contact your managing agent or visit the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) Website for further information.

Please note: State Bulk Water is not applicable to Mount Isa City Council.

The charging system for sewerage includes the following description and definitions:

Sewer service charges are levied per service or connection rendered to each ratepayer. Each service has an Australian dollar value equivalant, and these are detailed below:

Residential Cleansing Charges

The charging system for residential cleansing includes the following descriptions and definitions:

Residential garbage service charges are levied per service (as defined in the table below) rendered to each rate payer. Each service has an Australian dollar value equivalent and this is detailed below:

Commercial Cleansing Charges

Refer to Council's Revenue Statement 2023/24 for Commercial Cleansing Fees and Charges for the 2023/2024 Financial Year.

Environment Charge

In accordance with Section 94 (b)(i) of the Local Government Act 2009 Council will make and levy a separate charge for the Financial Year 2023/2024 on all assessments. This will be described as an Environment Charge.

The Environment Charge will allow Council to fund a range of strategic environmental management initiatives including rehabilitation across the region. The amount of the separate charge will be $71.00 per annum per assessment.

Change of Ownership Charge

Change of Ownership Charge of $62.50 will be issued to the new owner of a property upon receipt of a property transfer within the 2023/2024 Financial Year.

Legal Fee Charges

All Council-issued Rate Notices, Water Notices and Supplementary Notices have a due date clearly stated.

You have 31 days from the date of Issue to pay in full. Failure to do so will result in compound interest at a rate of 8.17% per annum calculated daily being charged on all overdue amounts.

If you are unable to pay in full by the due date, please contact Council to discuss a payment commitment. All Payment Commitment Applications must be submitted in writing to Council. 

Failure to enter into and comply with an approved payment commitment may result in debt recovery action.

All debt recovery costs are legally recoverable from the property owner and will be applied to your rates property account as legal fee charges.

• Register of Commercial Charges 2023-24
• Register of Cost Recovery Fees 2023-24