Utility, Separate and Special Charges

Water Utility Charges

Water utility charges are determined, collected and used for the purpose of covering the cost of planning, water demand management and constructing water infrastructure (including interest and redemption charges incurred by Council) and the cost of operating, maintaining and managing the water supply system.

The charges apply to all ratepayers who access or may have access to Council’s water supply infrastructure and, with limited exceptions, comprise of:

An annual access charge
A charge for each kilolitre consumed which increases for higher levels of consumption.

If you experience a significant increase in water consumption and a higher than normal water bill, you may have an undetected water leak somewhere on your property please refer to the below links:

Sewerage Utility Charges

Sewerage utility charges apply to all properties that are contained either wholly or partly within the declared sewered area or outside the declared sewered area but connected or may be connected to Council’s sewerage system. Revenue from these charges is used for the purpose of covering the cost of planning and constructing sewerage infrastructure (including interest and redemption charges incurred by Council) and the cost of operating, maintaining and managing the sewerage system. The charge is set so as to recover these costs. A charge is applied to each water closet pedestal installed on each property (exceptions apply). Refer to the following documents for more detail:

Waste Management Utility Charges

The kerbside waste collection for the Burdekin Shire is conducted within designated areas and is either of the following:

3 bin domestic service

A 140 litre mobile bin, or a 240 litre mobile bin if requested, with a red lid for domestic waste and collected weekly.
A 240 litre mobile bin with a yellow lid for recyclable waste (excluding green waste) and collected fortnightly.
A 240 litre mobile bin with a lime green lid for green waste and collected on alternate fortnights.

2 bin domestic service

A 140 litre mobile bin, or a 240 litre mobile bin if requested, with a red lid for domestic waste and collected weekly.
A 240 litre mobile bin with a yellow lid for recyclable waste (excluding green waste) and collected fortnightly.

2 bin commercial service

A 240 litre mobile bin with a red lid for commercial waste and collected weekly.
A 240 litre mobile bin with a yellow lid for recyclable waste (excluding green waste) and collected fortnightly.

Council will charge all residents within the defined service area for waste services.

A waste access charge is also applied to certain rateable properties without an existing service for access to free sorted domestic dumping at Landfill and Transfer Stations.

A waste legacy landfill charge is applied to all rateable properties in the Shire to fund expenditure and projects that assist in remediating or reducing the environmental and human health risks associated with former landfill sites located in the Shire, included further detailed assessment of sites if required.

Environmental Separate Charge

Council levies a separate charge on every parcel of rateable land within the Shire to fund projects that have an environmental benefit to the Burdekin community, including but not limited to the following environmental improvement and natural resource conservation, preservation or enhancement initiatives:

Rehabilitation, care or maintenance of the natural environment in areas including aquatic weed management; wetland management; herbicide subsidy; and management of local biosecurity matters such as declared pest animals and weeds.
Preservation or remediation of environmentally important areas.
Acquisition of land that has particular environmental value.
Promotion and encouragement of sustainable practices such as energy efficiency and waste minimisation.

For the 2024/2025 financial year, the amount of the charge is $10.

Mount Kelly Rural Fire Brigade Charge

Council levies a special charge on land within the area marked on plan number RF2009 to fund the ongoing provision and maintenance of rural fire fighting equipment for the rural fire brigades that operate in the Mount Kelly area. The land benefits from the provision of the Service because this land is not otherwise serviced by urban fire fighting brigades.

For the 2024/2025 financial year, the amount of the charge is $15.

The overall plan for the special charge is as follows:

The special charge is levied to fund the cost of providing rural fire fighting services to properties in the Mount Kelly area.
The rateable land to which the special charge applies is every parcel of rateable land shown on plan number RF2009.
The estimated cost of carrying out the overall plan is $6,255.
The time for carrying out the overall plan is 12 months ending 30 June 2025.

Scott Rural Fire Brigade Charge

Council levies a special charge on land within the area marked on plan number RF0425 to fund the ongoing provision and maintenance of rural fire fighting equipment for the rural fire brigades that operate in the Scott area. The land subject of the special charge specially benefits from the provision of the Service, because this land is not otherwise serviced by urban fire fighting brigades.

For the 2024/2025 financial year, the amount of the charge is $50.