Community
5 September, 2025
Rate relief for farmers
FARM owners within the Warrnambool municipality will receive rate relief over the 2025-2026 financial year.
Council has applied a rebate of 40 per cent to farm land in Warrnambool, made possible through the Victorian Government’s drought support package.
Most of the farms are located in the Wollaston and Hopkins River wards.
“Although the Warrnambool municipality covers just 120 square kilometres, we have 183 properties which will receive the rebate,” Hopkins River ward councillor Willy Benter said.
“Some people may be surprised by the number, which includes 163 properties classified as farms and a further 20 properties closer to residential areas that are classified as urban farms.”
Wollaston ward councillor Richard Ziegeler said the rebate, along with the decision to keep farmers’ contributions to emergency services at 2024-2025 levels, would provide much-needed short-term relief for primary producers.
“Those of us who aren’t farmers can’t know just how hard it is every day to keep their homes and livelihoods viable under pressures out of their control,” Cr Ziegeler said.
“We acknowledge the drought support from the state government and hope that this eases the pressure on our farmers who experienced unusually dry conditions over the latter part of 2024 and the first six months of 2025.
“It takes time to recover from a drought and primary producers will be feeling the financial and emotional impact of the low rainfall for some time.”
Moyne Shire Council is also set to apply a 40 per cent rebate on the 2025-2026 general rates and municipal charges of drought affected farmers.
Of the $35.8 million Drought Support Package the State Government announced for selected south-west Victorian councils in July 2025, $4,594,145 has been allocated to eligible recipients in Moyne Shire.
Mayor Karen Foster said council was grateful for the state government’s financial support for drought affected farmers under its Primary Producer Support Payments program.
“It’s reassuring to see the state government recognising that our communities do need support and we’re grateful to be able to pass the rebate through to our farmers,” Cr. Foster said.
“We know our farming communities will feel the effects of these record dry conditions for years to come.
“We have a long way to go, and council will continue to press for further support to manage the severe impacts of the drought.”
Other measures in the package were also welcomed, including funding for mental health services, fee and duty relief, timely farm debt mediation and further technical decision-making support.
More information on the drought support measures can be found at agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/drought-support
