Pastoral rents reviewed

18/5/04
Rents will increase for the majority of Western Australia's pastoral leases following an independent review.
At the same time, the State Government has agreed to waive lease fees for about 50 drought-affected pastoralists eligible for Exceptional Circumstances Assistance in the coming year.
Rents for about 480 of the State's 527 pastoral leases, covering 36 per cent of the State, will increase by an average of $1,200.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the current revenue from pastoral lease rents only covered half of Government-related administration costs.
Ms MacTiernan said the rent increases appropriately reflected the value of pastoral land in WA and ensured there was a reduced burden on taxpayers in providing a subsidy to the pastoral industry for the administration of their land.
An independent five-year review of rents, conducted by the Office of the Valuer General, has increased rents for 92 per cent of the 527 pastoral leases in WA. The remaining leases will pay the same or less for the use of the land from July 1.
In total, rents will increase by $600,000, raising the annual revenue from pastoral lease rents to $1.6 million - $600,000 less than the annual cost of administering WA pastoral leases, which is about $2.2 million.
The average payment is 1.80 cents per hectare - an increase from 1.13 cents.
The State Government has agreed to forego more than $136,000 in rent for about 50 drought-affected pastoralists in the Southern Rangelands area.
Pastoral leases cover 36 per cent of the State, or 90 million hectares.
Ms MacTiernan said the Department for Planning and Infrastructure had distributed the rent reappraisals to pastoralists with an information package outlining the legislative provisions and mechanism applicable to the calculation of pastoral lease rent and the raising of Local Government and Agriculture Protection Board rates.
"The Valuer General has indicated that the rents have been set on a fair investment return to the lessor for the use of the land for pastoral uses," she said.
"The Valuer General has been able to use improved and up-to-date information to assess the value of some leases."
The Minister said the pastoral industry remained an important part of the State and its economy.
"Through the Pastoral Lands Board and in co-operation with pastoralists, the Government wants to ensure pastoral leases are managed economically and on an ecologically sustainable basis," she said.
Minister's office: 9213 6400