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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 724 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 September 2021 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.