Rates Information

Council’s rates are influenced by many factors including increases in the cost of providing services, proposed capital works and increases in service levels or other Council initiatives. Council also considers statistical indicators such as the Consumer Price Index and the Local Government Cost Index.

Council consciously aims to keep the increase in rates to a minimum in order to lessen any impact on ratepayers but at the same time generate enough income to provide adequate levels of service and achieve its objectives.

Rates at a glance

Your rates provide Council with the revenue needed to manage all the services and facilities which make the Shire a vibrant and attractive region to live in. Each financial year a new budget is prepared to support current - and plan for the future - needs of the entire community. 

Rates are issued by the Shire each financial year. Your rates notice will be issued to you in August following the budget adoption process. 

Shire rates are levied on the values of the rateable properties provided by the Valuer General Office. GRV (Gross Rental Value) is applied to urban properties and these values are re-assessed every 5 years. GRV means the gross annual rental that the land might reasonably be expected to realise if let on a tenancy from year to year. A GRV is determined on the basis that the rental includes outgoings such as rates and other property expenses. 

UV (Unimproved Values) are used as the basis for the levy of rates for rural properties. UV properties are revalued every year. Market based UVs are determined by reference to the land market at the date of valuation. 

Council sets a "rate in the dollar" for each differential rate such as residential, commercial or rural. The rate is calculated to ensure that sufficient income is received to enable continued service delivery to our community. 

Your annual rates are calculated by multiplying your GRV or UV value by your applicable "rate in the dollar" taking into consideration the minimum rate.

How to pay your rates

Emergency Services Levy

The Shire is required to collect the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) on behalf of the State Government which uses the proceeds to fund a range of emergency services organisations including local bush fire brigades within the Shire of Esperance. If you wish to discuss this charge contact the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Visit www.dfes.wa.gov.au/emergency-services-levy for further information.

DFES - EMERGENCY SERVICES LEVY

Change of Address

It is the ratepayers' responsibility to keep the Shire of Esperance informed of your current address and contact details.

Your address can be updated by filling in this form or by calling our Rates Department on (08) 9071 0668.

Pensioner or Senior Rebates

Pensioners and Seniors may be eligible for a rates rebate.

To receive a concession a person must hold one or more of the appropriate Pensioner or Seniors cards and on July 1 of the financial year own and occupy residential property as their principal place of residence.

To ensure you are registered for a rebate for your rates please call the Water Corporation on 1300 659 951 and quote your concession card details. They will then update your details with the Shire. Remember to have your Water Corporation account number ready when you call.

Pensioner Concession Card OR State Concession Card Receive up to 50% rebate limited to a maximum (capped) amount of $750. 

Commonwealth Seniors Health Card together with a WA Seniors Card Receive up to 50% rebate limited to a maximum (capped) amount of $750. 

WA Seniors Card Receive up to 25% rebate limited to a maximum (capped) amount of $100. 

Council also offers Centrepay to eligible pensioners.  Centrepay is a free direct bill paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink. Through Centrepay you can choose to pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from your Centrelink payment, making bills more manageable. 

General waste and recycling bin rates

Your rubbish rates charge reflects the costs of collecting your general waste and recycling bin and the associated disposal charges. This charge can differ depending on the bin configuration you have chosen. Contact us on (08) 9071 0676 to change your bin sizes. 

Waste Rate

In 2013, the Shire of Esperance introduced a Waste Rate to fund the establishment of a new landfill site and waste management strategy to prepare for the closure of the Wylie Bay Waste Management Facility in late 2022. 

Having explored a range of options, the Shire has endorsed a multi-faceted proposal to transport and dispose of waste at the Coolgardie landfill site and to establish a transfer station and materials recovery facility on Myrup Road. 

The rate will contribute to the significant costs of these activities above and beyond the current rubbish service provided to the community. 

What my Rates pay for

Your rates contribute toward the services provided by the Shire including but not limited to:

  • Airport
  • Assistance to community groups
  • Bay of Isles Leisure Centre
  • Building control
  • Bushfire control
  • Cemetery
  • Civic Centre
  • Community information
  • Council & Governance
  • Dog and other animal control
  • Coastal Infrastructure
  • Economic development support
  • Emergency services support
  • Environmental planning
  • Esperance Public Library
  • Health control
  • Litter control
  • Museum
  • Off-road vehicle control
  • Parks, reserves and playgrounds
  • Recreational and cultural planning and development
  • Recreational & Sport facilities
  • Road construction and maintenance
  • Seniors, youth and disability support
  • Stormwater drainage
  • Street lighting and street trees
  • Tourism
  • Waste Management

Frequently Asked Questions 

How are Rates calculated?

Your rate amount is calculated by multiplying a property’s Gross Rental Value (GRV) or Unimproved Value (UV) by the rate in the dollar set by Council. 

GRV – is a valuation of your property, determined by the Valuer General, as an estimate of the rental income you would receive if the property was rented for one year. 

UV – is also determined by the Valuer General and is based on the value of undeveloped land. 

Rate in the dollar is set by Council to ensure sufficient income is received to enable continued service delivery to the community. 

Can I object to my property valuation?

If you believe the valuation of your property is incorrect, you can lodge an objection with the Western Australian Valuer General’s Office within 60 days of the issue date of your Rates Notice. 

Please contact Landgate on 08 9273 9273 to lodge an objection or visit the Landgate website here. 

If you lodge an objection, rates are still required to be paid by the due date while the objection is assessed by Landgate.  Failure to do so may incur interest charges.  Any reduction as a result of a successful valuation objection will be refunded to you. 

Why is the amount you're charging me higher than the rate I calculated?

You are being charged what is known as the ‘minimum rate’. 

This is a rate set by Council to reflect what is considered to be a reasonable contribution to the cost of Shire services and management. 

If your Gross Rental Value multiplied by the Shire’s rate in the dollar means that your rates are less than the set minimum, then the set minimum is charged. 

Why do I pay such high rates for vacant land?

All land is subject to the application of rates, including the Waste Rate. Vacant land is also valued differently by the Valuer General (VGO). 

Rates are based on an assessment of the annual rental value of a property, known as Gross Rental Value (GRV) and is the responsibility of the VGO: a State Government agency. It is then multiplied by a rate in the dollar (the Shire’s responsibility) to provide the actual rates on a property. Vacant land does not have rental potential so the VGO calculates a synthetic rental value by using 3% of the market value of land.  In most cases, vacant land will be charged the minimum rate, as explained above. 

What is GRV and UV?

Shire rates are levied on the values of the rateable properties provided by the Valuer General Office (VGO). 

GRV, or Gross Rental Value, means the gross annual rental that the land might reasonably be expected to receive if let on a tenancy from year to year. This is applied to urban properties and these values are re-assessed every 5 years.   

UV, or Unimproved Values, are used as the basis for the levy of rates for rural properties. UV properties are revalued every year.  

Read more from Landgate on GRV & UV Valuations here.

What rate changes should I expect if I upgrade my property? 

When there are changes to your property that affect its valuation, the Shire receives advice of the new valuation (and an effective date for the new valuation) from the Valuer General. An amended rates notice, called an interim rates notice, is then issued. An interim rates notice does not replace the original rates notice but is an additional charge. 

Examples of where your valuation would be amended include: 

  • a new building has been built 
  • a pool has been installed 
  • a new room has been added 
  • a property has been demolished