Water access 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 will apply to all ratepayers who have access or may have access to Council's water supply infrastructure and, with limited exceptions, comprise:

• An annual access charge
• A charge for each kilolitre consumed which adjusts for higher levels of consumption. For more details on water consumption charges go to Water Meter Readings and Consumption. 

A base access charge is also applied to each parcel within the water area that is not connected to the Council's reticulated water supply system.  Council believes that it is logical and equitable for all ratepayers who have access or may have access to council's water supply infrastructure to contribute to the fixed costs of the water supply operation by way of access charges.

Sewer Access charges are determined, collected and used for the purpose of covering the cost of planning and constructing sewer infrastructure (including interest and redemption charges incurred by Council) and the cost of operating, maintaining and managing the sewer system. The charge is set so as to recover these costs.

The utility charges for sewer services will be charged based on the usage of the property and calculated on each soil fixture (e.g. W.C. pedestal and urinal) installed on each property or each connection. In the event of no soil fixtures being installed on non-residential land connected to Council’s sewer system, a utility charge for sewer services will be charged per connection.

A sewer charge is applied per tenement regardless of whether the tenement is separately connected to Council’s sewer system or shares sewer services such as a single sewer connection to the property which services multiple tenements.  Each tenement is treated as a separate connection.  “Tenement” includes any premises that can be separately used, for example:

1. Multiple private dwelling on a single parcel; or
2. A flat, apartment or other dwelling unit used as a separate domicile; or
3. Residential units erected upon lots created pursuant to the provisions of the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 or the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997; or
4. A boarding house, hostel, lodging house, or guest house.

A base access charge is also applied to each parcel that is not connected to the Council’s reticulated sewer supply.  Council believes that it is logical and equitable for all ratepayers who have access or may have access to council's sewer infrastructure to contribute to the fixed costs of the sewer operation by way of access charges.

Waste management charges are determined on a user-pays basis to cover the cost of removing and disposing of waste. The charges are set so as to recover waste management costs including:

• Waste service administration
• Waste facility operation
• Waste minimisation and reduction education
• Post closure of waste facilities.

The waste management services provided include:

• Residential waste collection
• Residential recycling collection.

Integrated in the provision of waste management services is a recycling program.  With respect to domestic waste, a waste management utility charge is applied per tenement where a normal waste collection service and recycling collection service is not applied per tenement due to sharing of services such as bulk waste bin services.  'Tenement' includes any premises used a a separate domicile such as, for example:

A single unit private dwelling or

• Premises containing 2 or more flats, apartments or other dwelling units, each used as a separate domicile; or
• A boarding house, hostel, lodging house, or guest house.

The Queensland Government has amended the Fire and Rescue Act 1990, requiring Councils to levy and collect, on its behalf, an Emergency Management Levy.  This levy replaces the State Urban Fire Levy and has been extended to include all properties in Queensland.

The levy is to provide a more sustainable funding base for emergency services, recognising that all Queenslanders are at risk from possible floods, cyclones, storms, fires and accidents.  It will be used by local Rural Fire Groups to fund activities within our region.  The levy is based on property use, the structures on the property and the fire and rescue capability in that area.

The boundary amendment information for the Warwick Levy District (WLD) amendment has been issued to impacted property owners.

The boundary amendment information has also been uploaded onto the QFES website: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/about/em-levy/Pages/Warwick-Levy-District.aspx.

Please contact Queensland Fire and Emergency Services on 13 74 68 for more information regarding the levy.

Should you disagree with the classification of your property please contact Council.