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Rates Levies

The City of Greater Dandenong collects two rates levies:

  1. Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which applies to all Victorian property owners
  2. The Keysborough South Maintenance Levy, which only applies to people who own property in Keysborough South estates. 

Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF)

From 1 July 2025, the Victorian State Government Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) will appear on your council rates notice.

It will replace the existing Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL) and will be shown as a separate charge on rates notices. Council is legislated under the Fire Services Property Amendment (Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund) Act 2025 to collect these fees on behalf of the Victorian State Government.

The fund will help support a broader range of emergency services. For the first time, this will include the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES), Triple Zero Victoria, Emergency Management Victoria, the State Control Centre, Forest Fire Management Victoria and Emergency Recovery Victoria, as well as the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire Rescue Victoria.

How is the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Calculated? 

The Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) includes two components: 

  1. A fixed charge – based on the property’s classification (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, primary production, and public benefit).
  2. A variable charge – based on the property’s classification and capital improved value (CIV), which includes land, buildings and any improvements. The CIV is listed on your council rates notice.

Rebates and Concessions 

Existing concessions continue to apply, pensioners already receiving the concession on their rate notice do not need to reapply.  A $50 concession applies if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card or an eligible Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card. 

Some farmers may be eligible for a single farm enterprise exemption from multiple fixed charges. 

In recognition of their significant contribution, active volunteers and life members from the CFA and VICSES will be eligible to apply for a rebate.

For more information about the volunteer rebate, visit the Victorian Governments Eligible Volunteers Rebate Scheme website.

Further Information

For further information on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), please contact the Victorian State Government’s Department of Treasury and Finance:

Website: Visit Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund
Telephone: 1300 819 033 (Lines open from 23 July 2025)
Email: esvf@dtf.vic.gov.au

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The State Government of Victoria have a range of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund website.

 

Keysborough South Maintenance Levy

Developers designed the estates in Keysborough South with large open spaces. The design kept native plants and provides 20 per cent open space. Other estates usually only have 5 per cent of open space.

The reserves in Keysborough South restore natural waterways. They also provide residents and visitors with a network of cycling and walking paths and spaces to relax outdoors.

Council charges property owners in the Keysborough South estates a maintenance levy of $350 each year. This levy covers:

  • the maintenance required for the extra open space above the usual 5 per cent in other estates in Greater Dandenong
  • capital improvements within the estate that Council's capital works program doesn't directly fund.

Why Council established the levy 

The Keysborough South property developer wanted to provide 20 per cent of open space in the estates. They would finish and maintain it to a high standard to attract buyers to the area.

In 2006, Council and the developer signed an agreement under the Planning and Environment Act (Section 173 agreement). Under this agreement, the developer would establish and maintain the open space for the first three years. After the three years, Council would then maintain it.

The size of the open space is much larger than other areas in Greater Dandenong. It would cost more to maintain this open space. Council agreed to a $350 per year maintenance levy. The levy was to stay fixed for three years and then, at Council’s election, increase it by the CPI.

The 2006 development is Stage 1 in the estate. Stages 2 and 3 followed in 2011. These stages agreed to the same maintenance levy.

Areas covered by the levy

Map of the Keysborough South Maintenance Levy area

How Council manages the levy

Since 2011-12, Council has placed all revenue it received from the levy into the Keysborough Maintenance Levy Reserve Fund.

About 4560 blocks of land currently pay the $350 levy, raising $1.7 million each year. 

It is unknown what the final amount of assessments will be when the developments are fully completed but it is expected that this revenue will now plateau as development is reaching its maturity.

The Keysborough Maintenance Levy Reserve Fund will fund 75 per cent of this spending. The projected reserve balance at 30 June 2023 is $2.12 million.

As the developer continues to hand previous stages to Council to maintain, Council predicts:

  • it will have to spend more than it receives from the levy
  • the reserve balance will start to diminish.

Further information

Download the Keysborough South Maintenance Levy fact sheet - 470KB or Contact Council

View the balance of the Keysborough Maintenance Levy Reserve Fund in Council’s Financial section of the Annual Report

Keysborough South Maintenance Levy

Name Levy
Keysborough South Maintenance Levy $350.00
On

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Maintenance covered by the Keysborough South Maintenance Levy

Open space maintenance

Council maintenance

Council staff maintain the open spaces in all areas the developer has handed over.

Council's Garden maintenance activities include:

  • mowing
  • maintaining garden beds
  • planting watering and pruning trees
  • controlling weeds.

Council's cleaning activities include:

  • collecting litter
  • removing graffiti 
  • cleaning toilets and BBQs
  • cleaning park furniture and signage.

Other maintenance activities include:

  • maintaining and repairing playgrounds and park lighting
  • installing, replacing and repairing park furniture and signage
  • repairing footpaths, cycling paths, footbridges and timber walkways
  • maintaining and repairing fences
  • maintaining watering and other systems.

Melbourne Water maintenance

Melbourne Water maintains the waterways, including the plants up to the high water mark. In public open spaces, Council is responsible for maintaining areas above the high water mark. 

The Keysborough South Maintenance Levy does not include Melbourne Water's activities. The areas Melbourne Water maintains are not included in the 20 per cent open space in Keysborough South.

Nature strip maintenance in Somerfield Estate

As part of Council's subdivision guidelines, the developer who subdivides the land must landscape in line with Council approved plans. This includes parks, gardens, trees and nature strips.

In most cases, the developer is responsible for maintaining the site for the first three years.

If you live in Somerfield Estate, visit www.somerfield.com.au/faq/ for more details.