Regional Levies
We all benefit from landscape management in our region
Whether it's fishing, farming, enjoying our beaches, living on the land or in our regional centres, working in the forest industry, cooking with local produce or simply enjoying the outdoors, the condition of our landscape underpins our lifestyle.
Levies are raised by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, to fund projects and to enable landholders, industry, and the community to manage our region’s landscapes.
The regional landscape levy
The landscape levy is applied to all rateable land in the Limestone Coast. Local councils collect this on behalf of the Board, and all ratepayers will see this amount listed on their rates notice.
The landscape levy is a fixed charge that depends on the purpose for which land is used.
The categories of purpose of use are primary production, commercial, industrial and residential, vacant land and other. The landscape levy based on land use purpose aligns with a ‘beneficiary pays’ principle. For example, primary production landholders pay a higher rate as they use the landscape resources to generate an income and are more likely to receive benefit from landscape programs.
The regional water levy
The water levy applies to all water licensees with a water allocation for irrigation or industrial use.
The regional water levy is a fixed charge plus a rate per ML, or kL of allocation. This method means that all license holders will contribute to the cost of administering their license. 1ML (megalitre) = 1,000 kL (kilolitres) = 1,000,000 L.
What do we get from levies?
Regional levy funds are invested in local projects, implemented by Board staff in collaboration with landholders, the community, and other organisations.
The Board invests levies based on priorities outlined in its Business Plan. The four priority investment areas are: soil, water, pest plants and animals, and biodiversity.
Levies also help the Board to attract federal funding to deliver programs that achieve sustainable agriculture and environmental outcomes.