Council calls for Emergency Services Volunteer Fund to be scrapped

Published on 01 May 2025

Surf Coast Shire Council has joined the list of councils calling on the state government to abandon its proposed Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) Bill and associated levy.

During its meeting on Tuesday 29 April, Council voted to write to the Premier and key government ministers to advocate for:

• the Bill and levy to be abandoned; or
• if the Bill is not abandoned, for the state government to remove the requirement for councils to collect the levy on its behalf (instead collecting directly via the State Revenue Office).

Should the Bill proceed, Council will also request that:

• the levy formula be recalculated so that it does not place a disproportionate financial burden on rural and regional communities; and
• the Victorian Government provide a guarantee that any funds collected from rural communities will be directly invested into emergency services funding for those same communities.

The move came as a result of a notice of motion put forward by Cr Joel Grist, which noted that the proposed Bill would have significant impacts on regional ratepayers and place an administrative burden on Councils required to collect the levy.

It noted that the proposed changes from the existing Fire Services Property Levy – which the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund would replace – would disproportionately affect primary producers in the shire.

This is as a result of a proposed 189 per cent increase in the variable component of the levy for primary production land.

An accompanying information report from CEO Robyn Seymour noted that the Bill would result in an increased cost to Surf Coast Shire ratepayers of approximately $5 million for the 2025-26 financial year.

Mayor Mike Bodsworth said the agricultural community, which is one of the top five industries in the local area, would be hit hardest if the Bill passes through parliament.

“The levy would mean increased costs across all property types, but the biggest impact would be on our farmers,” Mayor Bodsworth said.

“It would place an unfair and substantial burden on primary production land owners at a time when they’re already under financial pressure as a result of the drought.”

Cr Bodsworth also noted that the government’s plan to have Councils collect the levy was a cost shifting exercise.

“Not only will this method place a heavy strain on Council resources, it will no doubt also be seen by many ratepayers as a Council fee, resulting in reputational damage,” the Mayor said.

“Thank-you to Cr Grist for doing the work on this motion and putting it forward, and to fellow councillors for supporting it.

“It’s important that we’re advocating on this issue for a better outcome for our community.”

In line with the resolution, Council will carry out its advocacy prior to 12 May.