Marion Council Rates Concession

Rates Help in the City of Marion

The City of Marion covers inner-southern Adelaide suburbs including Oaklands Park, Hallett Cove, Seacliff Park, Mitchell Park and Sturt. Marion does not offer a council-funded pensioner rates rebate, so your rates relief comes from the state concessions and the statutory postponement scheme.

Here's how the three layers of help work for Marion ratepayers.

State Household Concessions

Through ConcessionsSA, eligible pensioners and low-income homeowners in Marion can claim:

• Cost of Living Concession: $270.60 paid directly to your bank account
• Energy bill concession: up to $291.27 a year, usually credited to your electricity bill
• 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. The COLC is paid as a bank transfer — it won't appear as a discount on your Marion rates notice. If you haven't received a payment by December and you believe you're eligible, phone ConcessionsSA on 1800 307 758.

Seniors Rates Postponement

SA Seniors Card holders who own their home in the Marion council area can defer all rates above $500 per year under Section 182A of the Local Government Act. Marion must grant this if you meet the statutory requirements.

The deferred amount accrues compound interest at the prescribed rate and sits as a charge on your property title. You pay the first $500 per year ($125 per quarter), and everything above that is postponed until the property is sold or transferred.

Marion's coastal and inner-suburban properties tend to carry higher capital values than outer-ring councils, which often pushes general rates above the $500 threshold. For a Seniors Card holder whose annual rates are $2,500 or more, the postponement shelters a significant portion of the annual bill.

Apply to Marion's rates team directly with your SA Seniors Card details and proof of property ownership.

Section 182 Hardship Relief

Marion operates a standard Section 182 hardship policy. Any ratepayer experiencing financial difficulty can apply for:

• Payment plans to spread rates across the year
• Interest waivers on overdue amounts
• In rare circumstances, partial remission of rates

The council evaluates hardship applications on a case-by-case basis. Serious hardship applications — particularly requests for remission rather than just a payment plan — typically require a financial counselling assessment. The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) provides free counsellors who can help prepare your case.

Property Valuations in Marion

Marion properties are valued annually by the Office of the Valuer-General using capital value. If your rates have jumped sharply because of a valuation increase, you have 60 days from your first rates notice to lodge a formal objection with the Valuer-General. The objection is free and doesn't require a solicitor — you can submit comparable sales evidence yourself.

A successful valuation reduction lowers your rates for the current and future years. It's worth checking even if the increase seems modest, because Marion's rate in the dollar means a $50,000 overvaluation can shift your annual rates by several hundred dollars.

For a detailed walkthrough of every SA concession, postponement and valuation objection process, see our Council Rates Help for Pensioners in South Australia guide.

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