Moorabool Shire councillors were last week divided over proposed community alert sirens in Dales Creek.
In 2012, the Community Fire Refuge Pilot Project was launched at Blackwood CFA fire station with the aim of alerting communities to significant emergencies or danger.
Through the Fire Services Commissioners Office, the state government agreed to fund part of additional costs associated with installing community alert sirens in Barrys Reef, just outside Blackwood, which meant the Blackwood community would have two sirens in time for the 2014 fire season.
There have since been ongoing negotiations to find a suitable location and funding for a Dales Creek siren.
The council has received a letter from Bushfire Response Minister Kim Wells advising that there is no further current funding available to assist with the project, leaving the Dales Creek community with no siren.
At last Wednesday’s council meeting, Cr Tonia Dudzik put forward a resolution proposing that any shortfall in funds for the community alert sirens be met by the Woodlands Development Works Fund.
Cr Dudzik said it was necessary for the council to take onboard the shortfall and support the Dales Creek community.
But mayor Paul Tatchell and councillors Tom Sullivan, John Spain and Pat Toohey were strongly against having to fund the project through money dedicated to other community projects. Cr Tatchell said it was “absolutely disgraceful” that the state government was not supporting the community.
Cr Sullivan said that if council opted to pay the shortfall, it would give the state government a “get out of jail card”.
The resolution did not pass.
The council resolved instead to write to Mr Wells inviting him to the shire to inspect the Dales Creek high fire danger area and to continue to advocate for additional funding for sirens.
