[Simone Fisher]

Hi Sam, we sub-classified vacant land when we did our initial classifications (where possible). We have a domestic waste availability charge for vacant residential land so I used this to identify vacant residential land within our town centres. For rural residential assessments with no access to domestic waste we used a combination of Near Maps & DA information. For business land we looked at if a property was coded for a Stormwater Management Charge & if they weren’t we checked mapping.

We did have a number of properties where it was impossible to see from mapping if there were structures built due to tree canopies. The geography of these properties (water catchment, access through National Park, etc.) also made them difficult to inspect so we classified them as non-vacant & will rely on an application from the owner for vacant sub-classification.

I believe section 57(4) means that if an application for sub-classification is received it cannot be backdated beyond 1 July in the rating year that it has been received & not that sub-classification must be applied for annually.

For review of sub-classification (for residential assessments) we have added a procedure to our waste adjustments. When a new waste service is delivered we add a waste charge & remove the availability charge so this will now also trigger an adjustment to the FESL classification from the start of the next quarter.

For business properties we will be reviewing approved DA’s monthly & also do a larger check using mapping annually for any that are missed (fortunately we don’t have many vacant business properties).

Hope this has been of help.
Regards,
Simone