18 April 2023. By AgForce CEO Michael Guerin.
Nobody likes being overcharged.
Only last week I was swindled out of almost $10 buying drinks at the pub, and it certainly got my back up.
I complained of course, and the barman saw the error of his ways and corrected what was a genuine mistake.
So as a gesture of goodwill I bought another round – hooray!
But a lesson was learned - vigilance pays dividends when it comes to paying a bill.
And the new land valuations are no exception.
Unfortunately, land valuations in several key Queensland farming areas have surged by up to 178 per cent recently (on the back of improved confidence in the sector and favourable seasonal conditions) and the hikes could see farmers slugged with higher council rates and leasehold fees.
To make matters worse, these unimproved values are done by mass appraisal, not individually, so errors can occur.
Importantly, the responsibility for ensuring these values are correct lies with landowners - not local governments – and AgForce is urging Queensland landholders not to delay if they spot a mistake.
There is still time to raise an objection, but it must be lodged with the Valuer-General by 16 May.
In recent years, AgForce has assisted many members secure significant reductions in valuations, resulting in large savings, and once again we are ready to assist with our free workshops to help people assess their valuations and find out more about the objection process.
The bottom line is, it always pays to complain if you feel you’ve been short-changed.
Landowners who disagree with their valuation and are able to provide supporting information can lodge their objection online or at the address shown at the top of their valuation notice.
If you don’t have internet access, please call 1300 664 217 to request an objection kit.
Specific information on market movements in the 24 local government areas revalued in 2023 can be found on the land valuations website.