Join our community panel

The community are invited to express their interest (EOI) in joining a short term community panel that will inform Council's review of its differential rates in 2026.

The commitment involves participating in half day sessions on:

  • Sunday 8 February 2026
  • Sunday 22 February 2026

A panel of 30 individuals will be independently selected to reflect the different ratepayer categories/property mix including the diverse demographic and geographic make up of the community.

Applicants must be aged 18 years or over.

Selected panellists will receive a $120 voucher for participating in both sessions. Assistance will be available to meet any accessibility requirements (ie Interpreters, Auslan, information in alternative formats etc).

What the panel will consider?

An independent facilitator will support the panel through a deliberative engagement process to address its remit (or task) as detailed below:

“Council is reviewing how rates are charged to different property types in Cardinia Shire and wants to ensure the system is as fair as reasonably practicable. How can we best do this?”

Information

In accordance with legislation, Council adopts a range of different rates using defined criteria for different property types based on the location and purpose for which a property is used.

Differential rating means that each class of property has a different 'rate in the dollar'. The different rates are based on property types (i.e. residential, commercial, agricultural, vacant land) and distinguish between property in the growth corridor and property in the outer growth corridor. Rates are then calculated using the Capital Improved Value (CIV) of the property and the assigned differential rate. For example: $600,000 (CIV) x 0.0021041 (base rate) = $1,262.46

The general objectives of each of the differential rates are to ensure that all rateable land makes an equitable financial contribution to the cost of carrying out the functions of Council.

The existing rating structure comprises 6 differential rates categories listed below.

  • Base Rate
  • Farm Rate
  • Urban Farm Rate
  • Urban Vacant Land Rate
  • Urban Commercial and Industrial Rate
  • Urban Residential Rate

Further details on each differential rate can be found pages 14-16 of Council's Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 attached here.