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Northe Applauds Fire Services Levy Reforms New reforms announced to the Fire Service Levy
•The reforms will come into effect from 1 July 2014
By Russell Northe - 19th February 2014 - Back to News New reforms will benefit over 60,000 residential properties across Victoria
Member for Morwell Russell Northe has welcomed the recently announced reforms to the Fire Services Levy.
"The reforms, which come into effect from 1 July, 2014, will benefit over 60,000 residential rental properties and over 860 outdoor sports grounds across Victoria", Mr Northe said.
"Residential rental properties will be reclassified from commercial to residential land use under the Levy, providing an average saving of almost $260 per property each year."
"Outdoor sporting groups that have some degree of commercial application, like non-member playing fees, restaurants or conference or reception facilities, will be reclassified from commercial to the public benefit land use category," Mr Northe said.
"This has enormous benefit for regional Victoria where sporting groups can be hub of the town", he said.
"Many smaller rural towns rely on their sporting bodies for, not only physical activity and exercise, but for the social interaction well."
"They are a place where the whole family can go to mingle and socialise with their neighbours and friends.’
"In some instances, it is the only regular social activity in the town."
The changes are also of benefit to water catchments that are part of water authority infrastructure, as they will be reallocated from industrial to the public benefit land use classification; and commercial and industrial vacant land, with buildings that add no value, will reclassified to the vacant land use category.
"I am very pleased that these reforms have been announced", he concluded.
Anyone wanting any more information on these reforms, should contact the State Revenue Office on 132161 or visit the website at www.sro.vic.gov.au
Media contact: Russell Northe 5133 9088
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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