It was published: 11 months ago
This is the date and time that this news article was published.
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 Drought Support Package.
Most of the farms are located in the Wollaston and Hopkins River wards.
“Although the Warrnambool municipality covers just 120sqkm, 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 Victorian 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.”