Rates Incentive Scheme

Council gave residents a chance to win a brand new Ford Festiva car or holiday package valued at $1500 by simply paying their rates and charges up front and in full before 31 August 2009.

The Rates Incentive Scheme is designed to attract extra interest from rates payments which can then be directed back into projects and services for the community.

Rates make up 55 percent of Council’s income and help us look after beaches, parks and sports fields, collect waste, maintain our roads, manage planning applications and run our libraries, community centres and many other programs.

This year Council is putting a priority on repairing and renewing roads, buildings, footpaths, parks and basic community infrastructure. You will see your rates dollar being spent across the city on pothole repairs, footpath and cycleway upgrades, road resurfacing and improvements to public buildings and parks.

This year's competition winners were Mr and Mrs Watt.

Conditions of Entry
Rate payers with properties categorised as ‘Residential’ or ‘Farmland’, as shown on the 2009-10 Rates and Charges Notice, are eligible to participate in the scheme. Eligible ratepayers who pay their 2009-10 rates and charges notice (including any arrears) in full on or before 31 August 2009 will automatically be entered into the draw, unless you advise Council in writing you do not wish to participate. No refund of rates and charges will be made to eligible ratepayers entered in the draw after the closing date.

The following are not eligible to enter the draw: Local Government Authorities, Federal and State Government Departments and Instrumentalities, Administrators, Wollongong City Council staff and their relatives as defined in the
Local Government Act, 1993 dictionary. The dictionary defines a relative as follows- (a) the parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal descendant or adopted child of the person or of the person’s spouse, (b) the spouse or de facto partner of the person or of a person referred to in (a).

The prize will be drawn at the Ordinary Council meeting held in the Council Chambers, 41 Burelli St, Wollongong on 22 September 2009. The prize will be drawn by a representative of Council and scrutinised by an independent person.

The winners will be notified in writing, and after a verification process, by public notice announcement in the Wollongong Advertiser. In the event of any winner being ineligible for the prize or any winners payment cheque being dishonoured, Council reserves the right to award their prize to another eligible ratepayer by the lottery draw process. In the event that any prizes remain unclaimed after three months of the drawing, a redraw will be held. No correspondence will be entered into after the draws.