General News
4 June, 2025
Rates postage charge anger
CASSOWARY Coast ratepayers are to be slugged $2.25 extra every six months to receive their rates by mail.
The regional council is trying to get ratepayers to receive their rates notices via email (eRates) and save the local authority thousands of dollars in postage but there has been slow take up.
Some residents are furious.
Stuart Cole on Facebook described it as “extortion”.
“An absolute joke that you want to charge that on $4000-plus rates yearly that will no doubt go up after the land valuation increases,” he said.
“How about you start spending ratepayers money more wisely? I seem to remember during the recent federal election that ‘cost of living’ was a talking point. This’ll definitely help. As usual, CCRC out of touch.”
Diane Brownsey, also on Facebook, said the paper rates notices could go in the recycling bin “they have just introduced at great cost to the rate payers”.
“Then you have the audacity to charge an extra $2.25 to send out rates notices in the mail, that are already among the highest rates in the state?,” she said.
“Not everyone has an email, and the elderly will struggle with this as well … just extra costs for the people already struggling in our town”
The council has offered an incentive to encourage the eRates method, giving five lucky ratepayers the chance to win $500 off their rates by signing up to receive their rate notices via email through the new eRates campaign. Mayor Teresa Millwood said the eRates initiative was part of the council’s push towards a more digital and sustainable future.
“(The) council has been offering delivery of rate notices via email since 2016 and transitioned to EzyBill at the start of 2024,” she said.
“However, uptake has been slow, and each rate run costs more due to increased postage costs to over 15,000 residents.
“The traditional mail system costs more, takes longer and isn’t good for our environment. By following the lead of other local governments and private sector, we’re moving towards offering rate notices and statements online. It’s time to go green by going paperless on the Cassowary Coast.”
To sign up for eRates visit
