156Liability to pay rates and charges

156 Liability to pay rates and charges (1) The owner of land is liable to pay the rates and charges on that land. S. 156(2) amended by Nos 13/1990 s. 17, 34/1996 s. 16. (2) If the owner cannot be found or identified, the occupier of, or the mortgagee in possession of, the land is liable to pay the rates and charges. (3) If there is a person who is the private occupier or lessee of the land and the land is land on which rates and charges could not be declared if there were no such occupier or lessee, that person is liable to pay the rates and charges. S. 156(3A) inserted by No. 23/1993 s. 21. (3A) For the purposes of this Part and Part II of the **Valuation of Land Act 1960** a caravan park is a single rateable property of which the caravan park owner is taken to be the occupier. S. 156(4) amended by No. 81/1989 s. 3(Sch. item 30.2). (4) A person who has a licence to pasture any animals on Crown land under the **Forests Act 1958**, the **Land Act 1958** or the **Water Act 1989**, is liable to pay the rates and charges on that land as if it is rateable land. S. 156(5) amended by No. 96/1994 s. 57. (5) A person who has or should have a licence under the **Land Act 1958** in respect of any unused roads or water frontages is liable to pay the rates and charges on that land as if it is rateable land. S. 156(5A) inserted by No. 35/1998 (5A) A person who is a licensee of vested land under Part 3A of the **Victorian Plantations Corporation Act 1993** is liable to pay the rates and charges on that land as if it is rateable land. S. 156(6) amended by No. 78/1991 s. 13(c)(i)(ii). (6) A rate or charge which is declared in relation to land and is unpaid and any unpaid interest on such a rate or charge and any costs awarded to a Council by a court or in any proceedings in relation to such a rate or charge or interest are a first charge on the land.