FARMERS face an average  increase of 158 per cent in the new emergency services levy the State Government will force Loddon Shire to collect from July 1.
Shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald told Victorian Farmers’ Federation Wedderburn branch members on Tuesday morning they faced handing over $4.1 million next financial year.
Mr Fitzgerald told the special breakfast briefing that the new levy figure compared with $1.59 million collected this year under the fire services levy.
“We (shire) will be getting grief,” he said. “It’s a fairness issue.”
“Is this money to be reinvested in Loddon? Where is this money going?”
“There will be a lot of money going out of our communities.”
The emergency services levy will fund services that Mr Fitzgerald said had been traditionally funded by GST revenue and other state taxation.
Mr Fitzgerald said a farm with a capital improved value of $8.32 million had been paying a levy of $2300. Under the Government’s planned new tax, that would be $6800.
He said shire modelling had been given to Premier Jacinta Allan last Friday.
That modelling shows the total levy collection in Loddon Shire in 2025-2026 will be $5.16 million. Council send the money to the State Revenue Office.
The Government has said it will manage promised rebates to CFA and SES volunteers for their primary place of residence. “The State Revenue Office will be the good guys with the rebate.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the message he and Mayor Dan Straub gave Ms Allan at their meeting in Serpentine was that the emergency services levy would put a strain on Loddon communities at a time when farmers faced dry and challenging conditions.
Farmers on Tuesday told Mr Fiztgerald the emergency services levy proposal has been raised as the No 1 issue for the VFF after a meeting this week of the Wimmera branch.
Mr Fitzgerald said council will continue its advocacy in the community and through the Municipal Association of Victoria and  Rural Councils Victoria against the new levy as proposed by the Government ahead of the Bill’s expected return to Parliament for debate on May 13
But he also challenged other MPs to stand up. “We want to hear from the Oppoisition. We need local MPs to step up and talk to the community,” he said.
“It’s not too late ... we would love to hear from the Opposition who are opposing the levy and know what they will do.”
Mr Fitzgerald also briefed Wedderburn VFF members on council  advcoacy on renewable energy and maintaining the shire’s road network
He said one-on-one meetings were being organised with Loddon landowners in the path of the VNI West renewable energy transmission line project.
Meetings with VicGrid had discussed the underground transmission line proposal released last month by Syncline Energy and the need for further detail around plans to run the line from Charlton to Melton.
“Council wants to understand the plan ... we don’t have a sufficient level of detail.”
Several Loddon farmers have signed agreements with Syncline while the Government has said the plan is too costly.
Mr Fitzgerald said the release of the draft Victorian Transmission Plan, expected within weeks, with renewable energy zones more targeted and including identified locations.
The emergency services levy, renewable energy and proposed mineral sands mining projects were “all adding strain” in the agricultural community,” Mr Fitzgerald told the VFF meeting on Tuesday.