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Loddon HERALD Vol 5 No 12, THURSDAY MARCH 27, 2025 ISSN 2653-1550
RED HOT ANGER Collect your own tax, councillors tell Govt
LH PHOTO
By CHRIS EARL
YOUR tax, you collect it! Angry Loddon councillors have blasted the State Government’s new emergency services levy.
Straub told Tuesday’s meeting the promised new Serpentine fire station continued to be delayed. Cr Straub said the new emerWeeks from the tax’s introduc- gency service levy - double the tion, councillors on Tuesday said fire services levy - was “throwing the Government was hitting rural dirt in the face of volunteers”. Mr Fitzgerald said the Governcommunities, taxing volunteers ment had also forced councils to and launching a money grab. “(It’s) a mistake made at a high- use their own resources to collect er level,” Cr Nick Angelo said at unpaid levies. “This tax, which is required to the council meeting before backing a recommendation calling on be passed on in full to the State the Government collects its own Government, is shown on council rates notices as one of several taxes. “Make no mistake, it’s a tax,” line items that combine to make up the total rates bill due from a said Cr Miki Wilson. property owner,” he said. Council wants the levy collect“Consequently, it is a common ed by the State Revenue Office. incorrect perception that the fire Chief executive officer Lincoln services levy is Fitzgerald’s being collected recommendaby council, for tion said: “LoFebruary 13 2025 edition council.” cal govern- n YOU HAND THE GOVERNMENT $15M IN A DECADE SPECIAL REPORT Mr Fitzgerald n JUST A THIRD COMES BACK TO LOCAL BRIGADES ment should said there wre not be required significant cost to have any implications of part in its collection”. the new levy that would be largeThe levy will see a predicted ly be borne by farming properties. jumped of up to 300 per cent for “This levy will increase income Loddon farmers and businesses, to the Victorian Government to based on current land valuations. fund services which have tradiA revaluation could be made be- tionally been funded from other fore July 1, risking bigger hikes. taxation income,” he said The Loddon Herald last month Mr Fitzgerald said council had revealed the shire had been received no advice from the Govforced to collect more than $2.5 ernment on how the new levy million in fire service levies from would be implemented. ratepayers in 2024-2025 and Council will also tell the State hand it over to the Government. Government that it expected “to An analysis showed almost $15 be criticised for the significant million had been sent to Spring levy charge”, opposes the curStreet in the last decade but bare- rent form of the levy and wants ly $5 million returned to support ongoing funding support for its local fire brigades. Mayor Dan administration RURAL VICTORIA’S No 1 NEWSPAPER - FREE EVERY THURSDAY
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Loddon HERALD Vol 5 No 6, THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2025 ISSN 2653-1550
LEVY INEQUITY 1
By CHRIS EARL
Powlett volunteers Trevor Grigg, Mal Isaac and Aaron Lock fear a massive jump in their tax hit under the new levy. LH PHOTO
MONTHS out from the doubling of a State Government levy, concerns have emerged that Loddon communities are already being short-changed.
Investigations by the Loddon Herald found just an estimated 30 per cent of the compulsory fire services levy Loddon Shire is forced to collect has made its back to local brigades in the last decade. Loddon has handed over almost $15 million to the State Revenue Office in 10 years. Most of the eight new trucks to replace an ageing fleet were delivered more than six years ago and it has been at least five years since any new stations have been built. The State Government will almost double the hit on property owners to 17.3 per cent of property values from July 1 when the new emergency services and volunteers fund is introduced. Home owners face an average increase in the levy of $60, for farmers the hit could be in the thousands. Mayor Dan Straub said: “That’s a lot of money we’re sending off to Melbourne, not coming back to support local volunteer brigades. “Surely, we’re more than a milking cow for a compulsory State Government levy.” Powlett Fire Brigade captain Mal Isaac this week questioned the return and support for vol-
unteers. “We are going out putting our lives at risk but could be stung another $1000,” the local farmer and volunteer firie said. “There’s not much coming back.” The Country Fire Authority has not answered questions on infrastructure and equipment investment made in Loddon brigades over the last decade. It did confirm the long-promised new Serpentine station will cost $3.2 million.
CFA active and life members and State Emergency Services volunteers will be exempt from paying the levy on the principal place of residence. Loddon Shire says the exemption “has generated a lot of enquiries into council but there is currently no information as to how the exemption will be administered”. Council, required to act as the State Government’s tax collector, includes the current fire
services levy on annual rate notices. “Council is awaiting State Government details on the emergency services volunteer fund, but it is currently proposed to be collected via council rate notices and transferred to the State Revenue Office using the same process as the ... fire services levy.” Cr Gavan Holt flagged concerns council would be blamed for “increased rates” when the next notices were sent to property owners.
Groovin’ time at town hall
Levies collected are transferred to the Government each quarter when “levies held in ‘trust’ by council is reported and paid to the State Revenue Office ... being remitted at the end of March, June, September and December. “A further annual reconciliation report and audit is undertaken in August each year,” according to a council spokesman.
MORE REPORTS - PAGE 7
Clearing Sale 489 BOORT – FERNIHURST ROAD BOORT VIC FRIDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2025 @ 10:00AM SHARP!
FARM MACHINERY, COLLECTABLES, ANTIQUES
Collectables including 4 x Furphy water tanks excellent condition dating pre 1895 to 1943 – all with lids & taps, Qty Furphy wheels, Furphy pig trough, Avery platform scales / weights, Swage block & molds, CI render tub missionary CI pot, Burgin ball friction wheels x 8, Burgin ball shearing grinder, 4 HP Southern Cross stationary engine, Qty Furphy wheel bearings & McKay butterfly hinges, large Anvil, Butter churn, Qty Sunshine gates (various models), Sunshine Wheels, Dawn drill, leg vices (3), Trawella jack, Robinson harrow leaf, Sandstone wheel, Jas Smith grain grister, old wagon chain, CI stovetops/ doors, Ajax wool box, MH sickle mower, Mulboard ploughs, 2 x Woden jacks, Sharmango manual blower, Smith Windmill air valve, old McKay plough, old Jenkins & Berger Scarifier, Broad axe, Bag trolley, Stillards, Qty Cast Iron post & Stone jars, Haymes, Lister O/H shearing plant (3), Vanguard wheel cover, Qty Blacksmiths tools Contact Luke Nevins: 0418 510 166 or Vendor: Robert Coutts 03 5455 2129
FULL DETAILS - SEE OUR ADVERTISEMENT ON PAGE 14
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THE Festival of Small Halls rolled into Inglewood on Saturday night with an international brand of folk music infused with local performers for an enjoyable evening. Among more than 100 people to celebrate the festival bringing touring acts to the Loddon Shire for a second year were Bridgewater’s Joe and Rod Broom. REPORT, PHOTOS - PAGE 11
Fiery Flat - Sizeable Land Parcel 0 Old Canfields Road Fiery Flat
221.367 Hectares – 547 Acres In 3 Titles Offering an undulating allotment with laneway livestock movement system, fencing is excellent, new internally and some external. Set up comprising 6 main paddocks with 2 containment yards. Soil is sandy loam Ironstone mix on the rises, the main cleared body of land being grey & red Mallee soil. Water is from 5 dams with 2 GWM Pipeline points connected. Suitable to all facets of Agriculture including Cropping, Hay/fodder and Livestock, approx. 85% fully arable. Other improvements include 3 stand shearing shed with attached undercover sheep yards and single living quarters (connected to septic). Please note, shearing shed is generator run. Sale will include 40-ton Wheat silo. Price: $1,200,000
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