SOUTHERN Grampians Shire has been accused of “losing the plot” and being in “complete disarray” over it’s handling of fire danger day policies in a scathing statement from local firefighters.
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Members of the Serra Fire Brigades Group say the policy to close outdoor swimming pools and the Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre on days the CFA declared Extreme and Code Red fire danger days was imposed without any publicity or without consulting local fire brigades.
After community backlash the council reverted to the previous policy and said pools may open on days declared Extreme fire danger, but will be closed on Code Red days.
Home care services will continue on altered schedules, but the Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre will still be closed.
Brigades group officer Simon Armytage said the brigades had remained silent about the policy until now, instead turning their efforts to “robust” correspondence with councillors and shire staff while involving the CFA and Emergency Management Victoria.
“Contrary to initial verbal statements from shire personnel, we quickly established that the ill-advised policy was not as a result of CFA advice,” Mr Armytage said in the statement.
“To the contrary, the CFA has made it clear they prefer pools and visitor information centres to be open on such days.”
Mr Armytage says it doesn’t go far enough and the brigades group was adamant that the Dunkeld visitor information centre must be open on extreme fire danger days.
“The latest announcement from council appears to be a case of having two bob each way,” Mr Armytage said.
He said the visitor information centre was staffed by volunteers six out of seven days year-round and a shire staff member was on duty each Wednesday.
“If an extreme fire danger day occurs on a Wednesday, then alternative arrangements need to be made for the centre to be staffed, so that appropriate information is available for the public.
“We are certain that volunteers will be able and willing to perform this task, as they do anyway for over 85 per cent of the year.”
Southern Grampians Shire chief executive officer Richard Perry said the council implemented the revised policy in December with the best intentions for the welfare and safety of the community and staff.
“We developed a policy that we felt aligned with the CFA messaging for bushfire-prone areas and complied with our duty of care to staff and our legislative requirements for staff health, safety and well-being” Mr Perry said.
“However, we now acknowledge that we need to seek further advice and perhaps take a location specific approach to service closures on these days.
“We have determined to undertake a rigorous risk assessment of each service and venue and expect this will provide us with a clearer direction.
“We also intend to work closely with the CFA to ensure that our service provision aligns with the intent of their messaging for extreme fire danger days.”
Mr Perry said the extent of the service at the Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre would also be assessed as a priority.