Church group receives 'Holy Mile' rate reprieve

Busselton Gospel Chapel has successfully applied for a rates exemption for its Locke Estate lease.

Busselton City Council endorsed the exemption at its last meeting of 2014 as it was accepted it was used exclusively for a charitable purpose.

BGC committee chairman Phil Ashton told the city the site was used for regular meetings, church services, youth group activities, respite care and low-cost camping accommodation for disadvantaged people and free accommodation for Leavers Week volunteers.

Locke Estate lessees were subject to annual rates when new leases were negotiated in 2010.

City of Busselton finance and corporate services director Matthew Smith said the majority of lessees on Locke Estate had already registered with the City for rate exemptions and they each received an average annual concession of about $2000 a property.

"If all of the lessees on the estate received the concession, the City would be forgoing around $32,000 per annum in rates income," he said.

In a risk assessment presented to councillors, staff said that if the application was not approved the council may be required to defend its decision if the matter was to be appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal.

The BGC's exemption was granted from July 1, 2014.

Mr Smith said eligibility to back-claim rates was certainly not a given.

"These sorts of applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the criteria outlined in the Act," he said.

"Most applications for exemptions are processed from the date of application, but this may vary on the basis of the date of actual occupation or commencement of the particular activity or use of the property."