Thirty-six properties throughout the Federation Council area with unpaid rates and charges for at least the last five years are proposed to be sold, in accordance with the Local Government Act.
No property is to be withdrawn from sale unless and until all amounts due at the date of proposed settlements are paid in full by close of business three days prior to public auction.
Cr Gail Law emphasised the efforts made by council to assist ratepayers with their repayments as much as possible.
“We do contact those ratepayers and try to help them satisfy our requirements with suggestions,” she said at council’s monthly meeting on April 16 in Urana.
“They have every chance. This is a last ditch approach. We have used every effort to receive those rates and this is the last ditch.”
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch supported the move to recover money because he said unless council takes action recovering the outstanding rates, payment “is not going to happen tomorrow”.
“It’s not a pleasant time but nothing will happen until 17th August,” Cr Whitechurch said. “They still have three months to negotiate some financial arrangement. A lot of people find the money. There certainly will be some hardship but enough time (five years) has been given.”
Council will advertise its intentions.
“A convenient time and place for the sale of the land by public auction will need to be set and a notice to those persons who appear to have an interest in the land will also be sent,” Federation Council’s General Manager Adrian Butler said.