Introduction of the ESVF

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Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) member councils are bracing for a $60m hit to communities next financial year from the Victorian Government’s Emergency Service Volunteer Fund (ESVF) levy.

RCV Chair Cr Shane Sali, Mayor of Greater Shepparton, said Mayors and CEOs across the cities hold significant concern about the financial impact on residents, primary producers and regional businesses already struggling with cost-of-living pressures and dry conditions.

“Farmers can hardly afford to feed and water their stock at the moment – and now they’re being slugged the ESVF. The new levy is tone deaf to the situation in the regions. It really feels like the Government’s not getting it,” Cr Sali said.

“We are the nation’s food bowl – the Government should be pouring money into our regions not taking it out.”

Instead, in this term of government alone, the regions were stripped of the Commonwealth Games – costing the state $600m, and the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund – which provided $100m annual investment in the regions.

Councils are also picking up an increasing tab for the State for libraries, school crossings, maternal child health services, kindergarten infrastructure, waste services and environmental protection.

Meanwhile on the eve of next week’s State Budget, regional Victorians look at the tens of billions being poured into metro projects – like $13.48bn for Metro Tunnel, $11bn for West Gate Tunnel and $216bn for Suburban Rail Loop (east/north) – and wonder about the potential of some of that investment in our regions.

The ESVF is another ongoing cost to local government too, when the revenue base of local government is already unsustainable.

“It’s concerning that ensuring someone answers the phone at Triple Zero relies on regional and rural communities being slugged this new levy,” Cr Sali said.

“Councils have a rate cap – this government needs a tax cap.

“This consistent cost shifting from the State is ultimately borne by our ratepayers, and it has to stop,” Cr Sali said.

With the levy now due to come into effect on 1 July 2025, councils are still yet to receive advice on implementation of the levy, and whether their existing administrative systems can facilitate the process.

RCV is a powerful assembly representing the Mayors and CEOs of Victoria’s 10 regional cities – Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.