TOWN committees are throwing their support behind Loddon Shire Council in the fight to have the State Government axe its controversial emergency services tax.
Inglewood Development and Tourism and Pryamid Hill Progress Association meetings in the  last fortnight have passed motions backing council’s stance.
And Wedderburn Development Association has the issue on its agenda for this month’s meeting.
Loddon councillors voted to ask all Victorian councils to unite in opposing collection of the new tax. They have also written to Governor Margaret Gardner asking she not give legislation Royal assent and asked the Government to stop plans for the tax from July 1.
Pyramid Hill Progress Association president Drew Chislett said the tax would take money out of small rural communities. “That’s money that’s needed to keep our communities and businesses alive.”
Mr Chislett said the emergency services tax, that will see businesses hit with a 100 per cent increase on the old fire services levy was a double whammy “with  land taxes also going up”.
Inglewood Development and Tourism president Peter Moore said the tax would impact owners of business premises and shop customers.
“It’s a tax that should not have been,” Mr Moore said.
“It’s criminal really - there’s the land tax and now the emergency services tax ... it ridiculous.
“Businesses will have to pass on the increased taxes to customers. A few years ago, Victoria was the lockdown state, now it’s the tax state.”
While farmers have been given a 12-month reprieve from the 150 per cent increase under the emergency services tax, volunteer firefighters last week said they feared the tax could be increased in future years while Fentons Creek brigade member Ingrid Gould said the Government was taxing country communities but wasting money “and buying votes” in Melbourne.
Wedderburn Development Association president Tammi Martin said members had been discussing the new tax and the issue had been listed on next meeting’s agenda
Loddon Mayor Dan Straub said the groundswell of support from local communities for council’s bold stand was appreciated. “We had hundreds of Loddon people protest in Melbourne ... we are all concerned about the damage this tax will have on our people and communities.” he said.
City of Greater Bendigo last week said its 2025-2026 Budget proposed to reduce the rate in the dollar rural landholders will pay and not increase waste charges for all ratepayers in the new financial year in response to the levy.