Somerset Regional Council at its budget meeting on 10 July will consider supporting Somerset volunteer rural fire brigades with around $353,600 for the upcoming financial year.
Rural Fire Local Area Finance Committee representative and Somerset Councillor Brett Freese said the funds would help ensure the Somerset community continued to be protected.
“There is a rigorous process that goes into reviewing the budgets of our rural fire brigades and groups to make sure that the brigades have the resources they need to protect our community,” he said.
“These groups are vital to rural communities like ours who experience natural disasters far too regularly. It’s important that they are properly equipped and manned, and able to attract volunteer firefighters to sign up.”
Cr Freese said council was grateful for the support of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service officers who work with the brigades to do this and help us set a fair and reasonable rural fire levy each year.
“The Local Area Finance Committee resolved that the overall budget for the rural fire brigades presented by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) be accepted at its meeting on 23 May,” he said.
“QFES officers in attendance outlined the improved funding that rural fire brigades will now receive from the State Government, which is welcome, but which will not fully meet the costs of running the brigades.”
Somerset Regional Council mayor Jason Wendt said the role of volunteer rural fire brigades in the community was critical.
“Somerset volunteer rural fire brigades play a vital role whenever our region is threatened by fire, floods and other emergencies and Somerset residents won’t easily forget the 2019 fire season which would have been much worse if not for the actions of volunteer rural firefighters,” he said.
“They deserve the strong ongoing support from council and the community and as a council we are proud to do that.”
