Change of heart helps firefighters

The State’s premier volunteer firefighting group has welcomed Western Power’s decision to reinstate a brigade grants program one month after the entity axed its original funding scheme.

The Association of Volunteer Bushfire Brigades WA had disputed the closure of the Volunteer Bushfire Brigades Grants initiative, saying it limited volunteer firefighters’ access to funding.

Western Power provided $80,000 annually to rural volunteer firefighting brigades through the program – with brigades able to apply for up to $5000 in grants – from 2007 until it was cut in July.

However, Western Power announced it would implement a remodelled scheme following a meeting with association president Dave Gossage last month.

The entity will now provide $50,000 in grants for volunteer bushfire brigades and also sponsor the association’s annual conference dinner this year.

Mr Gossage said he was glad Western Power had listened to the group’s pleas.

“We met with the new CEO of Western Power (Guy Chalkley) and went through the history of how the grants came about and how it is imperative to bushfire brigades,” Mr Gossage said.

“We had good discussions and he was very understanding. Western Power have come on board and are assisting us – it is a very positive outcome.

“We’d like to thank the people in the background who helped it come to fruition.”

Under the remodelled structure, brigades can also apply for grants from Western Power’s whole-of-Government ‘Are You Bushfire Ready?’ initiative which offers $250,000 in funds.

Cookernup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade captain Bryan Crook praised the new scheme and said it was positive for regional brigades who relied on funding support.