Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972

If any land is the subject of a covenant under section 3A(1) and it appears to the Trust that the preservation of such land in its natural state is not economically feasible and that such preservation is thereby endangered, the Trust may so report to the Minister.

If the Minister has received a report under subsection (1), the Minister may do one or both of the following—

with the consent of the Treasurer, make an order remitting, subject to subsection (5), the whole or any part of the tax payable by the owner under the Land Tax Act 1958 that is attributable to the land concerned; and

after consultation with any relevant rating authority and with the consent of the authority or of the Minister administering the legislation under which the authority is constituted, make an order remitting, subject to subsection (5), the whole or any part of any relevant rates payable in respect of such land.

Any order made by the Minister under subsection (2) may at any time in like manner and subject to the like consents and conditions (if any) be varied or revoked by the Minister.

The Commissioner of State Revenue and any rating authority concerned must comply with any order made by the Minister under this section.

Any land tax or rate remitted under this section during the preceding 5 years becomes payable on the release of the covenant in respect of the land unless the Minister, on the recommendation of the Trust, otherwise directs.