Five properties set to be sold in Pingelly after rates left unpaid

The Shire of Pingelly will sell five properties to recoup more than $80,000 of debt after it says a ratepayer neglected to pay their rates for more than three years. One of the properties is on Parade Street in Pingelly with more than $35,000 of unpaid rates, while the other four are on vacant land in Kelvin Street. An officer’s report in last week’s council agenda said the Shire had previously approached the owner of the properties to collect the outstanding debt but the attempts proved fruitless. The report said when rates and charges remained outstanding after three years, a local government could facilitate the sale of land, with the costs associated with this process also recoupable. Shire CEO Andrew Dover said any money left over after the debt had been collected would be returned to the ratepayer. “We’re selling the properties because associated with them is a debt that we’re not able or we haven’t been able to get back,” he said. “We have the option under the Local Government Act to sell it and claim the rates, and if there is any money left over after paying the rates and outstanding utilities, then the owner gets the remainder of that money.” Emphasising the move was not taken lightly, Mr Dover said it was still not clear to him why the rates had not been paid. “We have taken an extensive process with that ratepayer, including payment plans and trying to work through their debt ... and this really is the end of that process,” he said. “It’s not a decision taken lightly. This is really the final step that we have available to us and it’s something that we don’t do willy-nilly, but it is a process that all councils do at some point or other. “It’s possible that they don’t have the money to give us, but that’s a supposition.”