OWNER of the Diamond Boutique in Braddon Olivia Keppie knew that public car parking was scarce in the thriving suburb when she bought into the Mode3 building last year.
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With her customers in mind, she decided to buy a retail space which had a car parking space attached and purchase one more spot for client use. But she has been stung by an unexpected rate charge that accompanies car spaces that have been ''unit titled''.
Commissioner of the ACT Revenue Office Kim Salisbury said the advantage of unit titling a car space was that the space could be bought and sold and would provide a yield on investment.
''Where a space is unit titled, commercial land rates apply,'' he said. ''Commercial rates include a $1749 fixed charge and an ad valorem amount reflecting the value of the land.''
Mr Salisbury said commercial rates would reap about $116 million this financial year.
Ms Keppie said she was shocked by the charge.
''The rates bill for the other car space is lumped in with the rates for the retail space and in total is about $3000. So I am shocked the rates on the additional car parking spot is $1878.70. There's no water or sewage or rubbish collection for it.''
Liberal MLA Andrew Wall said it was ''unconscionable'' to expect a business owner to pay in excess of 40 per cent of the unimproved land value of a car park site in rates per year.
JULIEANNE STRACHAN
