Corporate Services Committee - 8 September 2026

Topics

• Toowoomba council card surcharge set to disappear from 1 October
  The committee recommended removing the 0.33% surcharge on Council card payments in response to national payment reforms.
  Residents and businesses making Council payments by card should no longer pay this additional charge from 1 October 2026.
• Council to formalise free 24/7 Real Estate Portal access
  The committee recommended recording a nil fee for online Real Estate Portal access, formalising a service already provided free of charge.
  Property owners, real estate agents and solicitors can continue accessing property and rates information online without a fee, while reducing calls to Council service centres.
• Card surcharge to become nil
  The committee recommended amending the 2026/27 Register of Fees and Charges to reduce the card surcharge from 0.33% to nil, effective 1 October 2026, consistent with Reserve Bank of Australia reforms.
  Residents and businesses paying Council charges by card should no longer pay the Council card surcharge from 1 October 2026.

Decisions

• Card surcharge to become nil
  The committee recommended amending the 2026/27 Register of Fees and Charges to reduce the card surcharge from 0.33% to nil, effective 1 October 2026, consistent with Reserve Bank of Australia reforms.
  Residents and businesses paying Council charges by card should no longer pay the Council card surcharge from 1 October 2026.
• Free online Real Estate Portal access formalised
  The committee recommended adding a nil charge for online access to the Real Estate Portal, formalising the existing practice under section 155 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
  Online users, including property owners, real estate agents and solicitors, can continue accessing the portal’s property and rates information free of charge.

Discussion

• 2026/27 Register of Fees and Charges
  The committee considered amendments covering the card surcharge and online Real Estate Portal access.
  The changes affect the cost of making card payments to Council and accessing property information online.
• Real Estate Portal usage
  The automated portal provides 24/7 access to property descriptions, rates and charges information, water meter readings, land area and land valuation. It received more than 18,000 hits during the 2026 calendar year.
  The free self-service portal helps residents and property professionals obtain information without contacting Council service centres.

Impacts

• The 0.33% Council card surcharge is scheduled to be removed from 1 October 2026.
• Online Real Estate Portal access will be recorded as having a nil fee.
• Property and rates information remains available through a free 24/7 online service.

Places

• Toowoomba Regional Council service area (local government area)
  The Register of Fees and Charges applies to Council services across the regional council area.

Next

• Apply the approved amendments to the 2026/27 Register of Fees and Charges.
  Card surcharge change effective 1 October 2026; Real Estate Portal nil charge effective as specified in the adopted Register.

Extract

TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE Members of the Committee Councillor Bill Cahill Councillor Edwina Farquhar Councillor Gary Gardner Councillor Trevor Manteufel His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Geoff McDonald Councillor Tim McMahon Councillor James O'Shea Councillor Kerry Shine Councillor Carol Taylor Councillor Melissa Taylor Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff of 17 Toowoomba Regional Council Corporate Services Committee 8 September 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Opening of Meeting 2.Attendance including Apologies, Leave of Absence and Declarations of Conflict of Interest Reports 3.Proposed Amendments to the 2026/27 Register of Fees and Charges 4.Meeting Concluded of 17 REPORT OF...