At their meeting this week, Councillors unanimously moved a motion confirming Council’s strong opposition to the Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy.

The Levy is intended to support a broad range of emergency services in Victoria. It will be introduced next year, including a fixed and variable charge for each property in Victoria.

The ESVF is projected to significantly increase the amount paid by property owners compared to the FSPL. For example, residential properties are expected to see an increase of around 99%, commercial properties around 100%, and primary production properties (farms) around 150%.

Eligible volunteers, including CFA and VicSES will be able to claim a rebate on their principal place of residence or farm.

Many rural communities have expressed hostility to the increased cost the Levy will incur.

Council has previously written to the Treasurer and Minister for Local Government expressing that the levy has a disproportionate financial burden on rural and regional communities, like ours, especially primary producers.

Council indicated that it will continue to advocate for the Shire and join the many other councils opposing the levy.

The Council passed the following motion:

That Council:

  1. Notes that Council has previously written to the Treasurer and Minister Local Government noting our concerns with the Emergency Services and Volunteers Levy (ESVF) and undertaken various advocacy against the levy;
  2. Directs the Mayor to write to the Premier expressing Council’s strong opposition to the levy, noting the levy’s disproportionate financial burden on rural and regional communities and especially primary producers, calling on the State Government to repeal the levy in its current form; and
  3. Calls on the State Government to amend legislation to remove the requirement for councils to collect the levy on its behalf, noting the legislation will have significant impacts on regional ratepayers and place an administrative burden on councils required to collect the levy.”

See also Victoria’s Emergency Services Levy Sparks Regional Concerns