What are separate rates?

Section 154 of the Act permits Councils to raise a separate rate on properties, which may benefit from a project or undertaking. The main legislative features of a separate rate are:

• It can be applied to properties that benefit from the purpose of raising the rate;
• Money raised by these means cannot be put to any other use; and
• The separate rate must cease when the purpose has been completed and paid for.

The separate rates collected by Mount Barker District Council include:

• Regional Landscape Levy – This levy is a state tax. Councils are required to collect this under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 on all rateable land.
• Mount Barker Regional Town Centre Separate Rate - On behalf of the Mount Barker Regional Town Centre Development Association Inc. applied to the commercial and industrial businesses including vacant properties and or within the defined area (Refer Rating Policy). The purpose of this separate rate is to be utilised for enhancing the commercial and business viability of the Regional Town Centre.
• Hahndorf Separate Rate - On behalf of the Hahndorf Business & Tourism Inc. applied to the commercial and industrial businesses including vacant properties and or vacant land within the defined area (Refer Rating Policy). The purpose of this separate rate is to plan and implement the marketing program for Hahndorf including promotion, marketing and the business viability of the town.
• District Wide Residential Plan Amendment Report (PAR) and Developer Contributions Separate Rate - In 2006 Council entered into Agreements with various developers and landowners that recognise the developer's concept for development of land within the Council area and the developer's willingness to construct works adjacent to or in the vicinity of the Proposed Development. This is applied to specific parcels of land and are made available to those parcels as detailed in the rating policy.
• Separate Rates subject to Infrastructure Contributions – The following separate rates charged on rateable land as defined below and are subject to the principles of the Infrastructure Contributions – Separate Rate Relief Policy (for further details refer to the rating policy):
  • Transport Infrastructure MDPA Area;
  • Wastewater (Sewer) Infrastructure Mount Barker MDPA Area;
  • Wastewater (CWMS) Infrastructure Nairne MDPA Area;
  • Recreation, Sport & Community Infrastructure Mount Barker MDPA Area;
  • Recreation, Sport & Community Infrastructure Nairne MDPA Area;
  • Western Sector Community Open Space Land Acquisition;
  • Wastewater Commitment;
  • Wastewater Infrastructure Augmentation Separate Rate (WIASR); and
  • Littlehampton Development Sites Infrastructure Separate Rates Proposal;
    • Littlehampton Direct Infrastructure Contribution Separate Rate;
    • Littlehampton Indirect Infrastructure Contribution Separate Rate.