The auction was first put to tender in May this year with 126 properties on the block, however 56 owners and estates have been contacted or made contact since that point, and arrangements made for repayments.

The remaining 56 properties comprised 27 in Tamworth, 19 in Barraba and 10 in Manilla, which were all put up for sale last week in the three locations.

In Tamworth 24 of the properties sold with a price range between $500 and $60,000, while in Barraba all but one of the properties went for between $1000 and $15,000.

In Manilla one of the eight properties sold went for $160,000, with the lowest price being $1000.

TRC Director of Corporate Governance Chris Webber said that while some of the properties were house and land packages, many were “odd lots” comprising parcels such as easements, driveways and right-of-ways that many owners may have been unaware of, or estates were unaware of, some for multiple generations.

“Our last resort is to take these properties to auction, prior to that they are all put through a formal process,” he said.

That process involves the rates being at least five years in arrears “including four rates notices and instalments, and numerous reminder notices every year for five years, debt recovery action letters and summonses.”

“Council has a very generous hardship policy, so if anyone is struggling or is in a difficult situation we urge them to make contact as soon as possible so we can put in place a sustainable payment plan to get the debts under control,” Mr Webber said.

Any revenue remaining from the sold properties after arrears are paid goes to the owners or estate, or if they cannot be found to the State Revenue Office with a record of sale.

Council will be reviewing properties with unpaid rates and charges on an annual basis.