Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund

From 1 July 2025, the Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) will be replaced by the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF).

The Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund is NOT a Council charge. It is a levy collected by Council on behalf of the State Government.

How much will I need to pay?

The ESVF will be calculated based on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable charge based on property value.

 

Property Sector

Variable rate (cents per $1,000 CIV)

 Fixed charge ($)

Median   liability ($)

Residential Primary Place of Residence

17.3

 136  254
Residential Non Primary Place of Residence  17.3  136   254

Commercial Land

133

 275  1,239

Industrial Land

133

 275  1,246

Primary Production Land

28.7

 275  629

Public Benefit Land

5.7

 275  328

Vacant Land (excluding vacant residential land)

N/A

 N/A  N/A
* Derived from the Department of Treasury and Finance - www.dtf.vic.gov.au/emergency-services-and-volunteers-fund

 

The levy calculated using the following formula:

Levy = fixed charge + (capital improved value x levy rate) - concession of $50 (if applicable)

How do I pay the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund?

The Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF) is collected along with your council rates payment. The ESVF replaces the Fire Services Levy, which was historically charged on building and contents insurance premiums until 2013 when the State Government mandated that the responsibility for collecting the FSPL would be borne by Councils.

Council rates can be paid in quarterly instalments from the September quarter or as a lump sum in February.

Lodging an objection 

To lodge an objection to your Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund please complete the objection form(PDF, 48KB).

Single Farm Enterprise Exemption

Primary production properties consisting of multiple land parcels but valued as a single property for rates purposes are treated as a single property for the purposes of the ESVF and only pay the fixed component of the levy once.

Any person may apply for exemption from the ESVF fixed charge for Primary Production land under the 'Single Farm Enterprise' criteria. The Single Farm Enterprise Exemption form is available to download using the steps outlined below, or from Council's Customer Service Centres.

Where a Single Farm Enterprise (SFE) holds land in another municipality, an application for all land held by the SFE is to be lodged in each municipality.   

 

Applying for a Single Farm Enterprise exemption

Step 1.Before you start

You will need a copy of your Rates Notice.

Step 2.Single Farm Enterprise Exemption form

Click on this link to access the Online Form . You can complete this form online and if your application is approved, you will receive an amended rates notice.