On 5th August 2026, the CEO of the City of Moreton Bay was advised of the unfair over assessing and overcharging for Bulk Waste collection at MDU (Multiple Dwelling Units) within the Council’s boundaries.
Council’s Planning Dept
The Council’s own Planning Scheme Documents estimate that new development MDUs will generate 120 litres of general waste each week, and 60 litres of recyclable materials each week. Developers lodging new Development Applications are advised to provide Waste Management documents showing how the Waste will be managed using the Council’s estimates for the volumes of waste.
Council’s Rates Dept
Council then applies a waste charge on each individual Lot within the building and has been estimating the volume to be 240 litres per week, the same as for a single residential house. The amount charged is also the same as for a single residential house based on the 240 Litres of general waste per week.
Council’s Double Charging
So how does the Council, in their Planning Policy, forecast volumes for new units will be 120 litres per week, but then charging the Rates Waste component for double that volume? That does not pass the Pub-Test.
A “Reasonable Person” would consider that as overcharging.
Request to Council
In the notice given to Council, a request was made that they should give careful consideration to announcing and establishing a full review of all residential properties within the City where bulk refuse servicing is provided, and to then make financial adjustments for all overcharging that has occurred within the past 10 years.
On 17-Aug-2026 Council has replied to the Body Corporate request and has responded with:-
Council’s review found that the charges applied from 2024/25 onwards are consistent with the adopted Revenue Statements.
Several Owners lodged Governance Complaints with Council commencing 3rd August. As at 24-August many Owners had received an initial response from Council rebutting all claims. That rebuttal also relies on the Council’s Revenue Statement.
At issue here is then the legality of the Revenue Statement engineered and adopted by Council.
The rebuttal is not very clear or logical (see our ORANGES Analogy). It relies solely on a statement published in their “Revenue Statement”, which is part of their annual budget. The context of that Revenue Statement contravenes all Australian Consumer Legislation and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.