Wattle Range Council has found a significant error as it goes about collecting almost $18m in rates in the 2023/24 financial year.

The council has announced via social media that its ratepayers who receive their notices via post will soon receive an amended rates notice in their letterboxes.

The initial 2023/24 notices were printed with the incorrect Australia Post barcode.

“If ratepayers would normally pay … at an Australia Post outlet and have not already paid, Wattle Range Council recommends they discard the first notice and make their payment with the new notice when it arrives,” said a council statement.

“For those ratepayers that have already paid at an Australia Post outlet using the incorrect barcode, please contact council to confirm that your payment has been processed correctly.

“Ratepayers making payments via BPAY, online or at a council office, your payments have been processed correctly and you are unaffected by the error.

“If ratepayers receive their rates notice via email, or have a direct debit arrangement in place, their rates notice will not be reissued.”