Council Advocates for Fairer Deal as Ratepayers Face Steep ESVF Levy

Published on 21 May 2025

Hindmarsh Shire Council joins with our community in expressing serious concern about the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) legislation that passed the upper house last week.

From 1 July 2025, Councils across Victoria will be tasked with collecting the ESVF levy from ratepayers on behalf of the State Government, with the financial burden on residents, farmers and local business set to significantly increase.

Similar to the Fire Services Property Levy, the ESVF will be calculated based on a fixed charge that varies by property type, and a variable charge based on property value.  Under the revised structure, the primary production variable rate will increase significantly from 28.7 cents to 71.8 cents per $1,000 of Capital Improved Value (CIV), a change that will have a greater impact on regional and rural areas. Applicable volunteers who are primary producers will only be entitled to the exemption for their primary residence.

The increase in funds raised for the ESVF, compared to the former Fire Services Levy, from Hindmarsh Shire ratepayers will be nearly $2.2million, or 117%. Of the 18 rural councils assessed by Rural Councils Victoria, Hindmarsh will be equal third hardest hit.

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Ron Ismay, said, “We have been actively advocating for our community since this proposal was first introduced, working with Rural Councils Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, local community action groups and State Government representatives to call for what is fair.”

“Our community is full of emergency services volunteers, including a significant number of farmers who will be most impacted, sacrificing their time and safety to keep the community, and state and local government assets safe – they should not bear the majority of the burden of this new charge.”

“As well as this, Hindmarsh ratepayers will also suffer through Council having to pay this charge on Council-owned properties, an expense that further stretches our budget when we’re trying to prioritise improvements to key roads, community infrastructure and services.”

For more information on the ESVF, visit https://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/emergency-services-and-volunteers-fund. To find contact information for your local State Government representative, visit https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/.

Hindmarsh Shire Council will continue to support our community in advocating for a fair outcome.

Monica Revell
Chief Executive Officer

Photo from Wendy Glover.