More than 6000 Greater Shepparton properties have been assessed for flood damage, as residents wait to find out whether their rates will be reduced.
Following the October floods, Greater Shepparton City Council announced impact assessments would be carried out to understand the extent of the damage and provide supplementary valuation notices to affected properties.
Two full rates instalments have been charged to residents since, and a Mooroopna resident whose house was affected but did not wish to be named said it was taking too long for adjustments to be made.
Council finance and rates manager Claire Barnes explained the assessments were taking longer than initially expected to complete.
“Council’s intention was to have supplementary notices issued by the end of March,” Ms Barnes said.
“The initial assessments simply to identify flood-affected properties was a much larger undertaking than anticipated — more than 6000 properties were assessed.
“Of these, more than 20 per cent required a secondary impact assessment.”
More than 800 properties have been referred to the Valuer-General Victoria to determine whether the value has been affected by the floods.
Ms Barnes said rates would be adjusted accordingly once this had been determined, backdated to the floods on October 16.
“Should the adjustment result in a credit, a request can be made to have funds refunded or the credit can be applied to future rates and charges,” she said.
“At any time ratepayers are encouraged to contact council to discuss their individual circumstances if they are unable to make payment of their rates by the due date.”
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