Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF)

The Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF) is a charge that Council will collect from ratepayers on behalf of the State Government.

Council is legislated under the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Act 2012 to collect these fees on behalf of the State Government. If Council did not include this in the Rates Notices we would be in breach of the law.

Council has no choice and must pay the fees to the State Government.

All money collected by Council must be equally apportioned over all outstanding rates and charges – this means that from the rates income Council will be allocated a certain amount as will the ESVF and the waste charges.

Ultimately, by not paying the ESVF there could be a reduction in Council's revenue from rates. 

As Council must provide a portion of income towards the State Government for the ESVF, the risk is to Council's ability to continue with the services we currently provide if the fee is not paid. 

Further, if fees are left outstanding on your rates whether that be for the ESVF or for rates the amount may be liable for penalty interest and possible debt recovery action under Local Government Act 1989 and the ESVF Act 2012.

We therefore recommend if you wish to deliberately leave the amount unpaid to first seek independent legal advice on the matter.

While a ratepayer cannot object to the levy itself you may object to the following:

Australian Valuation Property Classification Code (AVPCC) Land Use code - this code determines the category that you pay, eg you can contend that your property is not primary production and should be residential.

Valuation – The Capital Improved Valuation that is applied to a property determines the variable component of the ESVF. If you disagree with your valuation and are successful in objecting to its value, your rates and ESVF will decrease accordingly. You can apply to object to your valuation via Council's website. 

ESVF will fund the following emergency services:

• Country Fire Authority (CFA)
• Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)
• Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES)
• Triple Zero Victoria
• State Control Centre
• Forest Fire Management Victoria
• Emergency Recovery Victoria

The ESVF will be rolled out over two years

• 1 July 2025 – Increase in charges and volunteer exemptions introduced
• 1 July 2026 – Principal place of Residence (PPR) vs Non-PPR Residential charges introduced

The ESVF is charged in a similar manner to the Fire Services Property Levy however there is also a variable charge based on property value:

• A fixed charge depending on your property type (determined by AVPCC – Land use code) plus
• A variable charge based on your property’s capital improved value. 

The state government is administering the exemption for volunteers. 

The following volunteers will be eligible to apply for a rebate:

• Active emergency service volunteers (CFA and VICSES)
• Life members
• Have served for 12 months
• Have passed probation
• Not been suspended on disciplinary grounds or taken a leave of absence for the entire duration of the preceding 12 months. 

Farmers with multiple properties that operate as a single enterprise may be eligible to pay a single fixed charge under the single farming enterprise exemption.

Council has voiced concerns to the State Government and advocacy groups about the impact of the ESVF.

Despite concerns from West Wimmera Shire Council and other Victorian councils, the fund was passed in State Parliament in May 2025.

Further information on Council's stance is available on Council's media release on the ESVF.