Mitchell Shire Council will look into establishing a rewards and incentives program that will aid local volunteer groups.
The move comes following a motion presented to the June Council meeting by Cr Bill Chisholm that called for enhanced promotion and exploration of ways to increase Council funding and support for the many volunteer community-based organisations across the Shire.
“In this Shire, emergency services and volunteer groups are facing serious funding issues. There are CFA units with tankers that are over 30 years old, and volunteers should not be expected to go out and face a catastrophic day in a 34-year-old vehicle,” Cr Chisholm said.
Cr David Lowe seconded the motion that also called for Council to advocate strongly to all levels of Government, including members of parliament, on behalf of Emergency Services volunteers within the Shire.
“These are people who rush into areas where ordinary people would run away from,” Cr Lowe said.
Cr Chisholm’s action followed a call from the State Emergency Service Seymour Unit seeking Council support in securing sustainable funding from government, to ensure volunteers across Victoria can continue providing the community with an effective emergency response.
The SES is not currently receiving a Victorian Fire Services Levy, despite being the control agency for 74 per cent of the costs associated with natural disasters.
Cr Chisholm told the meeting that this was in contrast to other states that had a broad emergency services levy that is used to provide a sustainable funding stream for each of their emergency services, including their state emergency services.
“My concern is that a lot of volunteer organisations are missing out. Council’s increase in the 2024/2025 budget is only 1.2 per cent. This is completely unfair,” Cr Chisholm said.
The motion was put to the vote and passed with seven Councillors voting in favour and one abstaining. Cr Rhonda Sanderson had declared a pecuniary interest and had left the meeting prior to the debate commencing.
