Community & Business
26 November, 2021
Council acquires valueless land
SEVEN properties considered to be “valueless” will be acquired by Mareeba Shire Council after rates have accumulated past the threshold.
A report to council stated that because the rates owed on the seven properties were currently higher than the valuation, the land was considered to be valueless or of so little value that, if it were sold, the proceeds of the sale would be less than the amount of the overdue rates and charges.
The report states that the current registered owners of these properties abandoned them over a century ago and are presumed deceased.
Five of the properties are in the Watsonville area, four of which are owned by the same person. The other two properties are in Thornborough and Dimbulah.
Overdue rates and charges owed on the properties ranges from $6000 to $78,000 – about twice as much as the valuation of the lots.
Four of the five properties in Watsonville are owned by the same person.
The report stated that once the properties had been acquired by council, further discussions would be held to determine future plans for the lots.
