“A crazy idea”: Manningham residents to pay an additional $365 on annual rates to cover emergency levy

Manningham Council has moved ahead with a 16 percent increase to its waste charge, despite a call from a former councillor to freeze the extra cost to ratepayers.

During its meeting on Monday June 30, councillors approved the budget for the 2025/26 financial year, taking into account a number of public submissions including 1,269 responses submitted during a survey held in 2024.

💰 Where is the money going?

The $161 million operating budget included:

• A three percent rates increase in line with the State Government’s rate cap, leading to $111,793,379 raised through rates;

• $49 million towards capital works, including $14 million for roads and bridges, $7 million for parks, $11 million for property works and acquisitions, $2 million for drainage, $3 million for footpaths and cycling paths and $10 million for recreational and community facilities;

• An underlying surplus of about $40,000;

• A $150 rebate for holders of a Commonwealth Government Low Income Health Care Card;

• A $266 reduction and a further $50 reduction towards the State Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) for pensioners.

Council criticises emergency services levy

Another key introduction to this year’s rates notices will be the State Government’s controversial ESVF levy, which would cost an additional $365 on average per ratepayer.

According to the State Government, the levy “ensures that Victorian property owners make an annual contribution to the State's fire services”, which include the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria.

Prior to July 2020, different variable rates for the Fire Services Property Levy applied depending on whether your property was in an area serviced by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade or the CFA.

Deputy mayor Andrew Conlon said the extra charge the council would collect on behalf of the State Government was “unjustified”.

“We are going to get blamed for that,” he told the chamber.

“I can see the phone calls now.

“It’s a crazy idea, in my view.”

Manningham mayor Deirdre Diamante also spoke out against the extra charge.

“This levy is far and beyond what those emergency services are seeking in terms of funding,” she said.

“We have regional councils that are concerned that some of the rates won’t be paid.

“This is a significant imposte on our residents.”

Waste charge not scrapped despite former councillor calling for another freeze

During public question time, former Manningham councillor Stephen Mayne asked whether council would consider not moving ahead with a proposed 16 percent increase to its waste charge.

He said the council had additional funds to fall back on since it had recently received $26.24 million from North East Link land sales in Bulleen.

Councillor Conlon said he was “quite comfortable” with the council moving ahead with the charge increase, as eight percent of it was in response to the State Government’s 27 percent landfill levy increase.

“I know that ratepayers want cleaner streets, they want cleaner parks,” he said.

Mayor Diamante said the year’s waste charge would allow the council to fully cover costs.

“As a result of us not seeking full cost recovery in previous years, we do have escalating costs,” she said.

“We are passing this waste charge with full cost recovery to ensure our long-term financial sustainability.”