Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald has allayed fears of a large increase in their Council rates following the release of land valuations last week.

The Valuer-General has issued new land valuations to the Toowoomba Region, which has an overall median increase of 31 per cent since the last revaluation issued in 2022.

The overall median value for residential land in the Toowoomba Regional LGA is $265,000, an increase of 29.3 per cent.

The revaluation included 70,359 properties, with a total value of $26.6 billion.

The date of valuation is 1 October 2024 and the valuations will take effect from 30 June 2025.

The Valuer-General notes property market changes within the Toowoomba Region are being driven by a number of factors including:

• an increasing population in the region
• increased economic employment opportunities with continued confidence within rural industries
• lifestyle changes and quality of life opportunities.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said Council would use legislative tools available to average valuations over two or three years and, where appropriate, apply rate caps to certain rating categories.

“A big spike on your land valuation from the Queensland Valuer-General does not automatically mean a big spike in your Council rates,” Mayor McDonald said.

“In the formation of our 2025/26 Budget, Council can implement a number of measures to smooth out the valuation to ensure residents are not adversely affected by a large valuation increase.”

Westbrook had one of the highest rises in the region, with the median value going up 39.8 per cent.

The highest rises were in small towns, including Southbrook, Jondaryan, Haden and Cooyar, which all doubled in value, as did Yarraman at the region’s northern extent.

Nobby and Greenmount had the lowest rises in median value of the entire region, at just over 10 per cent.

Sales within the rural residential market throughout the region are noted to have generally shown significant increases with continued demand for rural residential properties.

Of all land types, primary production land has gone up the highest at over 40 per cent.

An explanatory note from the Valuer-General says cattle commodity prices reduced during 2023, after significant growth in 2019-2022.

“This corresponded with significant increase in rural land values during that period, as a result of continued low interest rates, good seasons and high commodity prices.

“Since that time, despite lower commodity prices and higher interest rates, recent sales support the continued confidence.”

Land valuation notices will be sent in the mail. Those who are not satisfied can lodge an objection up until 26 May 2025.

To find your land valuation online, visit qld.gov.au/environment/land/title/valuation/annual/find-your-land-valuation.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 3 April 2025.