Kempsey Shire Council has announced it will undertake a “forced” auction of 23 local properties.
The Council said that after years of attempts at negotiation and resolution, the properties will be auctioned on 29 November to address unpaid rates.
Kempsey Shire Council Director Corporate and Commercial, Stephen Mitchell said the decision to sell the properties was not taken lightly and was only pursued after other options had been exhausted.
“We don’t want to take this step, it’s an option of last resort for us, but sometimes when ratepayers haven’t paid their rates it’s the process we need to pursue,” said Mr Mitchell.
“This is the first time we’ve taken this step in 10 years. We go through an extensive process to try and find a solution. All ratepayers are notified of their outstanding rates regularly and we have and will always try and negotiate with the owners.”
In August, the Council posted notice of a resolution that 27 properties would be sold at public auction by Kempsey Stock and Land as they were in default of payment.
The majority of these properties are vacant blocks of land with only six containing buildings, Council said.
The amounts owing on the properties ranged from $3,347.66 to $40,340.92, for rates stretching back more than a decade.
Council and their agents have made repeated efforts to contact the owners of the properties to attempt to reach an agreement on payments. Since the original notice, four properties have been removed from the auction following payment and further negotiation with the relevant owners, Council said in a statement.
“Council can only wear the financial burden for so long, before it begins to have an impact on other ratepayers and residents,” said Mr Mitchell.
He said Council remained hopeful that the affect property owners would pay the outstanding rates amounts prior to auction day.
“We will work until the day of the auction but we have to be fair to all of our ratepayers.”
The properties will be offered for sale by public auction by Kempsey Stock and Land Pty Ltd, at 11am on Tuesday 29 November at Kempsey Macleay RSL Club, 1 York Lane, Kempsey NSW 2440.
