The Mackay Regional Council, with the support of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and its legal advisors, King & Company, will appeal to the Supreme Court judgment that determined that the council could not impose differential rates on non-owner occupied residential property.
LGAQ chief executive Greg Hallam said the decision not only jeopardised the differential general rating capabilities of the Mackay Regional Council, but had far reaching implications for many other Queensland councils.
“Many councils presently use the differential rating power to categorise residential land based on whether it is used as a principal place of residence, or for investment purposes.
“The court’s decision needs to be appealed to properly test the limits of the differential rating power in this regard.’’
Mackay Regional Council Chief Executive Officer Barry Omundson has welcomed the support of the LGAQ.
