Emergency Services Levy for median-value residential property to rise by $6.55 from July 1

The state government has revealed how much the Emergency Services Levy will rise from July 1.

From July 1, the Emergency Services Levy will rise by $6.55 for a median-value residential property in metropolitan Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes Pool via NCA NewsWire

The Emergency Services Levy for a median-value residential property will rise by $6.55 from July 1 – with more than $395m set to be collected to help fund emergency services in South Australia.

The levy, which is calculated based on the value of a property, will rise to $157.85 for a residential property valued at $745,000.

If the household is eligible for concessions, their bill will rise by $2.40 to $62.40.

The levy will help fund a range of new measures, including $5m over two years for the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and Country Fire Service (CFS) to undertake PFAS substance testing and remediation, and $2.8m additional funding to relocate the Prospect State Emergency Service (SES) unit to a facility in Angle Park.

Another $817,000 will fund an audit of the CFS’ facilities, while $435,000 over two years will go towards helping the state’s Volunteer Marine Rescue associations to maintain their rescue capability, including supporting the replacement of vessels at Wallaroo and Lonsdale.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said recent events such as the River Murray flood have driven home the importance of emergency services.

“These incredible staff and volunteers are dedicated to keeping us safe, often in times of extreme danger,” he said.

“We need to ensure they have the equipment and support necessary to do this vital work.”

Emergency Services Minister Dan Cregan said South Australians rely on their emergency services when lives or properties are at risk.

“These investments will continue to build on agencies’ ongoing and exceptional service delivery to the state,” he said.

The opposition had previously called on the government to freeze the ESL to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures.

“The latest increase to the ESL means that the average household in suburban Adelaide is now paying $20 more since Labor took office,” treasury spokesman Matt Cowdrey said.

“Labor are back using the ESL as a cash cow and South Australians are paying the price.”

Originally published as Emergency Services Levy for median-value residential property to rise by $6.55 from July 1