While all ratepayers are expected to take a hit in this week’s city budget, commercial property owners are the main targets of new reform that will see those with the highest-valued land pay a “fairer share” of rates.
A $445 flat fee charged to all ratepayers for community services will be abandoned in the upcoming budget and rolled into general rates, which are tied to land-value.
This means owners of Logan’s most expensive land – predominantly commercial and industrial properties – will pay more, while the remaining 84% of ratepayers will pay less, according to the mayor.
“For the last 30 years, you have been paying a community service charge,” mayor Jon Raven said.
“This charge is the same for everyone in the city… That means residential ratepayers have been subsiding higher-value commercial and industrial properties in our city and that is just not fair.”
Meanwhile, commercial property owners have been told they will be charged $650 more a year for a new bin service – even if they choose not to use it.
This was revealed in a clumsily-written letter sent to commercial ratepayers by council bureaucrats, which has been slammed by business leaders.
It read: “From 1 July 2025, a 240 L general waste wheelie bin (collected weekly from the kerb) will be available to every commercial property in Logan. The minimum quarterly commercial waste utility charge of $163.75 will apply for this service… Please note, if you choose not to receive your 240 L waste bin, the minimum quarterly commercial waste utility charge will still apply.”
One local businessman and commercial property owner, based in Beenleigh, called the charge a “money grab”.
“In our complex we already have a rubbish bin and a paper bin. We have got 18 unit-holders in our complex… so [council is] going to get close to $12,000 for rubbish bins that we don’t need,” he said.
“That’s highway robbery.”
This commercial ratepayer couldn’t understand how the bin system would practically work.
However, Cr Raven, who was also critical of the letter and admitted it was confusing, said the charge was not actually about the bin service.
Rather, the revenue earned from the charge which is already paid by residential ratepayers, will go towards upgrading and running council’s waste transfer stations and landfill.
“For a long time we have been asking residential ratepayers to shoulder that entirely,” he said.
“We believe everyone should contribute, and in other cities around us, everybody does.
“It’s not a service charge for a 240L bin. You’re welcome to get that if you want to – but for many businesses it is going to be more hassle than it is worth – but we do need [commercial ratepayers] to contribute.
He said the money would be used to create safer and more efficient waste facilities in the city.
“Everyone in the city benefits from having better waste transfer facilities.”
Beenleigh-Yatala Chamber of Commerce president Aki Sihto said the letter was indefensible and confusing.
“I think the council really needs to get ahead of this and explain it to commercial operators in general in Logan,” he said.
“It is causing quite a lot of concern right now.”
