Alexandrina Council Rates Pensioner

Pensioner Rates Help in the Alexandrina Council

The Alexandrina Council covers a large area of the Fleurieu Peninsula and Murray River region — from Goolwa and Port Elliot along the coast through to Strathalbyn, Milang, Clayton Bay and Hindmarsh Island. It's a popular retirement area with a mix of coastal, river and rural properties. Annual rates bills vary considerably depending on location, but pensioners on fixed incomes face the same pressure regardless of whether their home sits on the coast or inland.

Alexandrina does not offer a council-funded pensioner rates rebate. Your rates relief comes through the state ConcessionsSA programs and the statutory Seniors Rates Postponement.

State Concessions Through ConcessionsSA

Eligible pensioners and low-income homeowners apply through one portal for:

• Cost of Living Concession: $270.60 paid directly to your bank account (August–December)
• Energy bill concession: up to $291.27 a year
• Water and sewerage concession: water $304.12 to $484.80; sewerage up to $228.12 for homeowner-occupiers
• ESL remission: up to $46

Apply at sa.gov.au/concessions by 31 December each year. One application covers all four concessions.

Seniors Rates Postponement

SA Seniors Card holders who own their Alexandrina home can postpone all council rates above $500 per year under Section 182A of the Local Government Act. The council must grant it if you meet the statutory criteria.

For Alexandrina residents with coastal properties in Goolwa or Port Elliot, where annual rates can sit between $2,500 and $4,000, the postponement defers the large majority of the bill. Inland properties around Strathalbyn typically carry lower rates, but the postponement still provides useful cash-flow relief. The deferred balance accrues compound interest at the prescribed statutory rate and remains a charge on the property until sale or transfer.

Apply to the Alexandrina Council's rates team with your SA Seniors Card details.

Hindmarsh Island and Valuation Concerns

Hindmarsh Island properties within the Alexandrina Council have attracted particular community attention over rates. A ratepayer on the island reported a $3,000 annual rates assessment on a property valued at around $550,000 — and public discussion highlighted widespread confusion about how the Valuer-General's capital value drives the rates calculation.

If your property valuation looks too high, you have 60 days from the date of your first rates notice to lodge a free objection with the Office of the Valuer-General. For island and waterfront properties, be specific about which comparable sales are truly comparable — a renovated riverfront holiday home may have sold for far more than a modest permanent residence, and the Valuer-General should be assessing your specific property's likely sale price.

CWMS Water Concessions

Some Alexandrina properties — particularly around Hindmarsh Island, Clayton Bay and Milang — are connected to a Community Wastewater Management System rather than SA Water mains. If that's your situation, the standard water concession won't be applied automatically to your bill. You'll need to submit your annual water and sewerage invoices to ConcessionsSA to claim the top-up concession (threshold: $1,013.75 for homeowner-occupiers in 2026–27).

For more detail, see our post on CWMS water concessions in regional SA.

Hardship Assistance

Alexandrina administers a Section 182 hardship policy under Section 182 of the Local Government Act. Contact the council's rates team if you're in financial difficulty — they can arrange payment plans, waive interest, or consider other arrangements.

For serious financial difficulty, the National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) provides free access to accredited counsellors who can negotiate with the council directly.

For a complete walkthrough of every SA concession, postponement and CWMS claim process, see our Council Rates Help for Pensioners in South Australia guide.

See more South Australia guides →