WUNDOWIE
BUSH FIRE SERVICE STATION
724. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Emergency Services:
I refer to reports relating to the urgent need to construct a
new bush fire service station at Wundowie.
(1) Did the
Shire of Northam make application under the local government grants scheme to
construct a suitable and safe fire station for volunteers and the community?
(2) Was the
application for a grant under the scheme rejected by the state government; and,
if so, on what grounds was the rejection made?
(3) Will the
minister visit the facilities currently occupied by the Wundowie bush fire
service to understand its urgent need?
(4) What was the number and total value of applications
under the local government grants scheme for 2021–22 by —
(a) grants accepted; and
(b) grants rejected?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Yes.
(2)–(3)
The application was received by the
Department of Fire and Emergency Services and progressed to the local government
grants scheme bush fire service capital grants committee for consideration.
This is a process independent of the minister. The BFSCGC considered the
request and determined that there were higher competing
priorities than an additional standalone facility in Wundowie. It was
recognised that Wundowie and surrounds were, and still remain, well
serviced by the Wundowie Volunteer Bush Fire and Rescue Service based just 200 metres
away from the BFB's interim facility, as well as over half a dozen bush
fire brigades, with the closest being eight minutes away in Bakers Hill.
(4) (a) Twenty-one
local government bush fire service applications totalling $5.7 million and 14
State Emergency Service applications totalling $1.3 million were approved.
(b) Ninety
local government bush fire service applications totalling $29.4 million and 16
State Emergency Service applications totalling $1.2 million were not approved.