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Ratepayers across the Gladstone Local Government Area have been meeting their obligations with outstanding rates almost halved over the past six months, from a peak of $27.1 million.
Since November 2020, when The Gladstone Observer reported on the outstandings, ratepayers have coughed up $13 million, reducing the outstandings to $14.1 million.
The latest figures were reported to Gladstone Regional Council during its most recent meeting.
Council is in a better position recouping rates compared to what was owed at the same time in 2020, with 7.66 per cent of total rates levied owed, compared to 8.77 per cent last year.
Residential ratepayers still account for the bulk of the outstanding rates.
Land valuations for the Gladstone region have been issued by the Queensland Valuer General, with a decline in value in most localities attributed to the timing of the assessments.
The valuations have been dated October 1, 2020, which was before the Gladstone property market reached its current and significantly higher level.
âThe Valuer-General released land valuations for 28,429 properties with a total value of $3,536,001,969 in the Gladstone Regional Council area,â the Valuer Generalâs department said in a statement.
âThe valuations reflect land values at October 1, 2020, and show that Gladstone Regional Council has decreased by 7.8 per cent overall since the last valuation in 2018.â
Gladstone s ratepayers cough up $12 9m in overdue rates gladstoneobserver.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gladstoneobserver.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“It was very small, like a mozzie bite.”
Those were the words of Gladstone and Banana Shire Director of Medical Services Dr Dilip Kumar after receiving the port city’s first AstraZeneca COVID vaccination on Wednesday morning.
Despite calls to pause the AstraZeneca rollout due to a few people experiencing blood clots, the emergency physician said he had complete confidence the vaccine was safe.
“It is very safe, the benefit far outweighs the risk from the vaccine and the risk is very minimal,” he said.
Dr Kumar said the Therapeutic Goods Administration used world leading clinical testing methods and everyone should be confident of the AstraZeneca vaccine’s efficacy.
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Reducing crime trends across the Gladstone Local Government Area can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the regionâs police, the port cityâs top cop said.
Gladstone Police Inspector Darren Somerville said the command had a pleasing start to 2021 with some âvery positiveâ downward crime trends.
Significant reductions in property crime, Insp Somerville said, were a combination of proactive policing and community vigilance in securing homes and cars.
âGladstone crime stats comparing year to date with the previous year are very positive particularly regarding property crime,â he said.
âWe have seen considerable reductions across most property crime classes.