Gunnedah Shire Council will auction five properties on Friday, July 25, to recover rates and charges that have remained unpaid for more than five years.
The auction comes following a lengthy process of contacting owners for payment, and public advertising.
The five properties are located in Gunnedah, Curlewis and Breeza. As at January 31, more than $24,000 was owed on these properties by various owners, and this auction will be held to clear the total outstanding amount.
Council’s director, corporate services, Kelly Stidworthy, said most properties were deceased estates and some were very small parcels of land that should have been consolidated into other assets such as railway corridors.
Property owners have until the time of the sale to make arrangements satisfactory to the council for payment of outstanding rates and charges, otherwise the land will be sold by public auction by Lakeford Real Estate at The Civic, 83 Chandos Street, Gunnedah on Friday, July, 25, 2025 at 11am.
The Local Government Act 1993 states surplus funds from the auction of properties with outstanding debts are held with council’s Trust Fund pending discharge to persons having interest in the properties. Where no claim is forthcoming, the balance of sale proceeds is remitted to the State Government in accordance with the Unclaimed Moneys Act.
Council has limited avenues to retrieve significant overdue rates and charges as it is unable to simply “restrict access” or “cut off the supply” when it comes to rates and services. Therefore, the sale of land for unpaid rates is an important final tool in ensuring that council collects the rates and charges due to it and ensures the continuity of services for all ratepayers of the council.
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