Fire Rescue Victoria: Regional areas to be divided into zones of new service control
Victorians face paying differing fire service levies depending on whether their address falls into a zone controlled by Fire Rescue Victoria or the CFA. See the boundary maps here.
AT LEAST a million Victorians are about to be brought under the control of Fire Rescue Victoria, after being serviced by the CFA for 75 years.
From July 1 FRV will take control of the MFB and the CFA’s 38 integrated stations to form a new career-firefighter-only service.
FRV will take over a raft of outer metropolitan Melbourne CFA stations, plus those in Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Morwell, Traralgon, Latrobe West, Geelong, Corio, Belmont, Lara, Lucas, Bendigo, Ballarat, Mornington, Rosebud, Ocean Grove and Portland.
Department of Justice and Regulation maps (below) show that for the first time regional cities and towns will be divided into FRV- and CFA-controlled zones, with Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville yet to reveal how much households, businesses and farmers in each zone will pay in fire services levies.
As it stands anyone in the CFA zone is paying a much higher FSPL rate than those in metropolitan zones.
FSPL rates are likely to reflect the current Melbourne Fire Brigade rate of 53.1 cents per $1000 of a business’ capital improved value, compared to the CFA rate of 79.5c per $1000 of CIV.
A business worth $2 million in the current MFB zone pays an FSPL of $1062, while a neighbouring property of the same value in the CFA zone pays $1590 (plus fixed charges).
If the MFB FSPL rates for primary producers were applied to tablegrape, citrus and winegrape growers close to Mildura, within the new FRV zone, they would pay just 14c/$1000 of CIV, compared to 19c/$1000 in the neighbouring CFA zone (plus a $226 fixed charge).
It would mean a farmer within the FRV zone with a $2 million farm paid an FSPL of $280, compared to a similar farm in the CFA zone paying $380 (plus the fixed charge).
That situation could be widespread as FRV takes over the MFB and at least a million Victorians living in outer metropolitan and regional cities, who are currently serviced by the CFA.
Minister Neville’s spokeswoman said “the Government was working with the CFA, MFB and key stakeholders to ensure both CFA and FRV can fulfil their statutory functions and keep communities safe”.
“As per normal process, the Treasurer will gazette the FSPL rates on or before 31 May 2020.”
FRV’s takeover of large swathes of the CFA’s territory will help it deal with the cost of meeting the demands of the United Firefighters Union to recruit additional career firefighters and to lift pay and allowances.
Meanwhile, the Government is charging ahead with recruiting at least five new deputy commissioners to lead FRV, who will be paid up to $343,938 each.
Candidates have until April 19 to lodge applications in the hope of helping the Government form FRV from the MFB’s 2388-strong workforce, plus 1371 CFA career firefighters.
While FRV will initially take control of all CFA integrated stations, the Government intends to quickly form a Fire District Review Panel, which will recommend any further annexations of CFA stations and regional cities.
Other CFA integrated stations to be merged into FRV are: Boronia, Rowville, South Warrandyte, Cranbourne, Dandenong, Frankston, Hallam, Hoppers Crossing, Pakenham, Patterson River, Springvale, Caroline Springs, Craigieburn, Eltham, Greenvale, Tarneit, Melton, Point Cook, South Morang and Sunbury.
BOUNDARY RIDERS
Maps of Fire Rescue Victoria zones
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