PORTLAND district has the south-west’s highest average taxable income and Scotts Creek the lowest, according to the latest Tax Office statistics.
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The 3305 postcode area including Allestree, Bolwarra, Cape Bridgewater, Dutton Way, Cashmore, Gorae, Heathmere and Mount Richmond had an average income of $47,781 for the 2012-13 financial year. Next in the pecking order was the 3277 postcode area including Allansford, Mepunga and Naringal with $45,324.
That was chicken feed compared with Australia’s highest taxable average of $177,514 in the prestigious Darling Point area of Sydney and the $148,967 in St Andrews, Victoria.
At the other end of the scale Scotts Creek’s average was $22,453, putting it in Australia’s lowest bracket behind NSW towns of Delungra, Gragin and Myall Creek on $21,691.
Figures show the small south-west rural settlement had 165 individuals with a taxable income or loss totalling $3.79 million, but of that there were 55 primary producers with a combined loss of $602,578.
Caramut was also in the lower end of the average income at $29,375.
The south-west’s other high taxable averages were Port Fairy-Orford with $44,475 ahead of Warrnambool-Dennington on $43,948 followed by Mailors Flat on $42,162, the Hamilton-Byaduk North area with $41,537, Bushfield, Grassmere, Winslow and Woodford area with $41,424 and the 3285 area covering Codrington, Narrawong, Rosebrook, St Helens, Toolong, Tyrendarra and Yambuk on $40,196.
A closer examination of the data shows Warrnambool residents paid the region’s highest net tax of $140.57 million paid by 12,690 people.
Warrnambool also topped the region with $10.2m paid for the Medicare levy by 12,145 individuals.
Portland followed with a net tax of $64.49m paid by 4980 people.
Warrnambool held the lead with the most people on government pensions and allowances with 1165 claiming $10.65m plus 1820 collecting $9.54m in other government allowances and payments. Portland district followed with 480 people claiming $4.6m in government pensions and 705 on other allowances.
Warrnambool also topped the region in gross personal interest earned, with $18.4m
Hamilton had the most generous residents with 2350 gifts or donations, valued at $3.73m in tax deductions. Warrnambool had the highest gross rent income of $29.47m.
