Volunteer bushfire brigades belong with the Local Government

MEDIA RELEASE - Volunteer bushfire brigades belong with the Local Government

April 2016

Following an article in The West Australian newspaper on Monday, 18 April, Shire President Wade DeCampo is speaking out against Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson's suggestions that volunteer bushfire brigades should come under the watch of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

The current model sees volunteer bushfire brigades coordinated at a local government level, a template which Cr DeCampo says has worked well in the Shire of Manjimup for a very long time. "We've had outstanding success with the management of our volunteer bushfire brigades throughout all of our towns, and this is done in collaboration with the DFES and the Department of Parks and Wildlife."

"I agree with Commissioner Gregson in that conditions are hotter and drier and we're seeing more and more wildfires every year; it seems that tragedy strikes all too often. However, I disagree with the notion that resources would be better coordinated from a central operations point located in the metropolitan area," said Cr DeCampo.

Cr DeCampo believes that if volunteer bushfire brigades were to be managed by DFES, it would be a duplication of what is already happening at the local level, "which currently poses very little cost to local communities". "The proposed changes will inevitably lead to less 'on the ground' action when there isn't a wildfire," said Cr DeCampo, adding "volunteers are vital and indisposable, not only in an emergency situation or wildfire, but in ensuring communities and townsites are made safe, all year round."

Anecdotal evidence that has emerged since the article was published indicates that many volunteers will be lost if this type of arrangement was to go ahead. Cr DeCampo suggests that Commissioner Gregson should instead investigate the possibility of assigning a Deputy Commissioner for the regions, based in the country. "An initiative such as this is more likely to rebuild confidence in the country," said Cr DeCampo.

"It is incumbant on Local Government to be responsible for this type of function and not use the excuse that it is all too hard, so lets just hand it over to someone else (DFES) to deal with. Community protection should be dealt with at a local level, because that is where the local knowledge is. Just because the model didn't work for a particular fire, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work in general."

"The arrangement of a 'shared' Community Emergency Services Manager, between local government and DFES, plays a vital role in bringing volunteers, Local Government and the DFES together, particularly during an emergency. Collaboration and cooperation is always going to work better than being dictated to from the City," concluded Cr DeCampo.

-ENDS-

Authorised by Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer

Contact Gina Nieuwendyk, Coordinator Communication and Executive Support

Contact: 9771 7777

Contact for comment: Wade DeCampo, Shire President.

Contact: 0427 094 081