Emergency Services Levy

Your contribution to your fire and emergency services

All property owners in Western Australia now contribute to the fire and emergency services through the Emergency Services Levy (ESL).

The Emergency Services Levy is included on your local Government rates notice. It is printed as a separate line item, clearly identified as the “Emergency Services Levy”.

Local Governments collect the levy on behalf of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA). All funds collected are forwarded directly to FESA, which then redistributes the money to the emergency services throughout the State.

The ESL funds approved operating costs and capital equipment purchases of all career and volunteer fire brigades and State Emergency Service units. It also funds volunteer training programs, fire investigations, community safety programs, emergency management planning and FESA’s corporate support costs.

Since it inception, the levy has made a positive difference to all career and volunteer fire brigades, volunteer State Emergency Service (SES) units and volunteer emergency units throughout the State, and FESA thanks you for your continuing support.
To ensure each property owner contributes a fair and equitable amount, the State has been divided into five categories so that properties with access to more emergency services contribute more. The City of Joondalup is in category 1.

The ESL charge for category 1 properties is calculated by multiplying a property’s Gross Rental Value (GRV) by a rate in the dollar, which in 2011/12 is $0.0114.

However, the maximum amount a property owner will pay for a single residential property, hobby farm or parcel of vacant land is $280.00, while the maximum amount for a commercial, industrial or miscellaneous property is $160,000.

Pensioners and seniors who qualify for a rebate on their Local Government rates will be eligible for the same concession on their ESL charge. The ESL will not affect the total rebate limit that pensioners and seniors can claim on rates. The ESL rebate is combined with the Council rates rebate and printed as a combined amount on the rates notice.

To find out more about the ESL visit the FESA website at www.fesa.wa.gov.au