Council's response to the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund

Joint media release - Rural councils develop 'name and shame' rates notices for ESVF

Joint media release - Drought taskforce welcome, but more help needed

Joint media release - Rural communities urge amendments to unfair Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy

Joint media release - SWVA rejects unfair ESVF tax on rural Victorians

Joint south-west Mayor's media release - Eight mayors join forces against emergency services tax(PDF, 155KB)

Media release - Levy changes are not fair

Media release - New levy needs to be urgently reviewed

Local_Government_opposition_to_ESVF.pdf(PDF, 136KB)

GSC-Open-letter-to-the-Premier.pdf(PDF, 148KB)

Letter-to-Minister-RE-Emergency-Services-and-Volunteers-Fund.pdf(PDF, 149KB)

Letter-to-S-Mansfield-RE-Emergency-Services-and-Volunteers-Fund.pdf(PDF, 148KB)

Letter-to-the-Premier-re-Collection-of-the-Emergency-Services-and-Volunteers-Fund.pdf(PDF, 145KB)

Letter-to-Premier-from-SouthWest-Victoria-Alliance-May-2025-1.pdf(PDF, 183KB)

Letter-to-Ros-Spence-re-South-West-Victoria-drought-May-2025-2.pdf(PDF, 227KB)

Letter-to-Sarah-Mansfield-MP-from-SouthWest-Victoria-Alliance-May-2025.pdf(PDF, 164KB)

Letter-to-the-Treasurer-from-SWVA-January-2025-re-ESVF-2.pdf(PDF, 207KB)

Letter-to-Treasurer-from-SouthWest-Victoria-Alliance-May-2025-2.pdf(PDF, 183KB)

25 February 2025 Council Meeting - Mayor outlines concern for new Emergency Services Levy.

27 May 2025 Council Meeting - Council writes to State Ministers outlining the concerns that both Council and the community has in relation to the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund introduced by the State Government.

The ESVF will take effect on 1 July 2025 and will appear on ratepayers’ 2025–26 rates notices.

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

The levy is calculated using the following formula:

• Levy = fixed charge + variable charge – concession (if eligible)

If eligible, after you receive your rates notice you can apply for the Volunteer Rebate.

Existing concessions continue to apply.

A $50 concession applies if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card or an eligible Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.

Some farmers may be eligible for a single farm enterprise exemption from multiple fixed charges.

In recognition of their significant contribution, active volunteers and life members from the CFA and VICSES will be eligible for a rebate. 

Existing concessions for pensioners will not change under the ESVF.

If you are already receiving the concession, you do not need to reapply.

If you are eligible and haven't received the concession, please contact our Rates Department.

Eligible CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members will be entitled to a rebate on the ESVF on their principal place of residence or farm, which will be administered by the State Government through the Department of Government Services.

Eligible volunteers include all active VICSES and CFA operational and support volunteers. To be eligible for the rebate, volunteers will need to have served for at least 12 months.

The rebate will be administered by the Department of Government Services. For more information, visit the Eligible Volunteers Rebate Scheme page on the Victorian Government website.

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.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, we encourage you to contact our Rates Department as you may be eligible under Council's Financial Hardship Policy for assistance.

Like the Fire Services Property Levy, you have the right to object to your property’s valuation (of capital improved value) if you think the valuation is incorrect, which affects the amount of ESVF you pay.

If an objection is allowed or partially allowed and your property’s value is reduced as a result, councils will make the appropriate adjustments to your levy bill.