Unjustified Rate Increases to Mining Tenures within the Etheridge Shire

We the United Miners of the Etheridge Shire, draw to your attention the unfair, illegal and unjustified rate increases - without the Statutory Right to Appeal - on mining tenures.

The Etheridge Shire is located in Far North Queensland. It has a long and colourful mining history.

In the early 1980's our local Government commenced charging rates on mining tenures but without supplying any services. These rates have progressively increased with CPI.

On 15th August 2007, without any consultation with the community, ( as set out by law within the Local Government Act) the Etheridge Shire Council increased mining rates - in some instances over 1000%.

While this increase may have been sparked by record global commodity prices there is virtually no active mining within the Shire.

These rate increases are not sustainable and even if people decide to drop their mining tenures, that have possible cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars, they will still have to pay mining rents and rates for another 3 to 5 years to comply with the new mining and EPA regulations and bureaucratic red tape within the system.

The Etheridge Shire Council has also taken it upon themselves to remove the peoples Statutory Right to Appeal. The Etheridge Shire Council has also taken it upon themselves to rescind the right to pay off rates by installments.