Rating exemptions, concessions and rebates
Learn about available council rate concessions, exemptions, and rebates, including municipal charge exemptions for single farm enterprises, pensioner concessions, and conservation covenant incentives. Find eligibility details, rebate amounts, and application steps for each program.
Municipal Charge / Single Farm Enterprise Exemption
In addition to general rates, the Council levies a municipal charge, a fixed charge which all rateable properties incur regardless of value or property type, to recover some of Council's governance and administration costs. The municipal charge is $195.00.
Where a single farm enterprise is conducted on several farm properties, only one Municipal Charge and one fixed charge component of the Fire Services Property Levy is payable for that farm enterprise. There must be no more than one property containing a principal place of residence within the single farm enterprise.
To apply for the single farm enterprise exemption, please complete and return the Single Farm Enterprise Exemption Application Form.
Pensioner Concessions
A pensioner concession for eligible concession card holders will provide a 50% discount off council rates on your principal place of residence, up to the maximum amount of $266.00, as set by the Victorian Government for 2025/2026. Eligible card holders will also receive a $50 concession off the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund for their principal place of residence.
Pensioners who received a rate rebate last year, and who are still eligible, will find the current rebates have been calculated and deducted automatically from their rate account. If this is the case, no further application is required.
Eligible cardholders (Pensioner Concession Card or Gold TPI or War Widow Cards) who live in their own home and did not receive a rebate last year, or who do not have the concessions shown on this year's rates notice, must make application on the required form by 30 June 2026. To apply for the Pensioner Concession on your rates and charges, please complete and return the Pensioner Concession Application Form.
The concessions do not apply to Health Care Card holders.
For further information on concessions, visit the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing website.
Trust for Nature - Conservation Covenant Rate Rebate
A conservation covenant is a voluntary agreement between Trust for Nature and the landowners. It is placed on the title of the land to ensure that the natural bushland is permanently protected.
The Council offers a rate rebate to landowners who register a Trust for Nature conservation covenant on their property. The rebate acknowledges the long-term commitment of these landowners to conserving the biodiversity on their land.
Landowners will receive a rebate of up to $20 per hectare of land placed under covenant. The total rebate will depend on the rated value of the covenanted area, with a minimum rebate applied of $100 and a maximum rebate of $500.
For further information on conservation covenants, visit the Trust for Nature website.