Understanding your rates
How your rates are set
Rates are set by a Rates Resolution passed annually by the Environment Southland Council. Read more about this here.
Types of rates
General Rate:
General rates are paid by everyone in the region. The general rate covers expenditure that Council considers all ratepayers should contribute to. For example, research and monitoring of Southland’s water, land, air and coast to ensure they’re managed sustainably and available for future generations to use and enjoy. This rate is based on your property's capital value.
UAGC (Uniform Annual General Charge):
The Uniform Annual General Charge is the fixed amount of your general rate. It covers activities that benefit everyone regardless of property size or value, such as emergency management, pollution prevention, environmental education, community representation and our 24-hour environmental response service through our 0800 76 88 45 phone number.
River Management Rate:
A rate (excluding Waiau rating district) based on capital value, which replaces individual river management rates. All Southlanders benefit from a well-functioning transport network, and appropriate river management ensures that our transport network remains resilient and adaptive.
River management is one of four flood protection and control activities that are designed to maintain rivers and protect people, property, and livelihoods. The purpose of river management work is the maintenance of channel capacity for efficient flood water movement which lowers the risk to our primary flood bank assets.
Effective river management is essential for protecting both individual properties and the maintenance of operations of regional infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, waste and water services, and hospitals. This includes routine maintenance to ensure adequate fairway width, enhancement work to improve access and monitoring the stability and alignment of rivers through river cross-section and gravel surveys.
Flood Infrastructure Investment Rate:
Murihiku Southland has an extensive network of flood protection infrastructure, but a changing climate with severe and enduring events, coupled with ageing infrastructure may result in a reduced level of protection, over time, if there is no additional investment.
This rate contributes to the mitigation of the impacts of our changing climate and flood infrastructure for the region. It supports increased flood modelling and data collection, improved capability and maintenance and investigation into alternative ways to reduce flood risk for the longer term.
Rates: Myth vs Fact
| Myth: | My rates don't pay for anything I use. |
| Fact: | Many regional council services benefit everyone, including flood protection, biosecurity, environmental monitoring and water safety. |
| Myth: | My rates only benefit farmers, not us who live in the cities/towns. |
| Fact: | Environment Southland also works to help communities reduce and manage flood risk, alongside biosecurity, air quality monitoring, biodiversity, coastal management, harbour safety and environmental planning. |
| Myth: | Everything Environment Southland does is paid for from our rates |
| Fact: | Just over half Environment Southland’s income (55%) comes from rates. We also receive income from fees and charges, capital grants, investment income, South Port dividends, rental income, levies and contributions. |
| Myth: | I already pay rates to Invercargill City Council/Gore District Council/Southland District Council, so I don't need to pay Environment Southland Council rates |
| Fact: | You are not paying twice for the same service. Different councils provide different services:
City and district councils generally provide services relating to: local roads, rubbish collection, parks and reserves, libraries, drinking water, wastewater Environment Southland provides services relating to: flood protection, river management, biosecurity, environmental monitoring, air quality monitoring, harbour safety, natural resource management |
