Horsham Rural City Council, along with other Wimmera councils, wrote to state government ministers about requirements for councils to arrange fire plug installation when the Country Fire Authority requested it.

Council was also concerned about funding the installation work and the ongoing maintenance costs. 

It suggested Treasurer Tim Pallas consider giving councils access to funding from the Fire Services Property Levy to cover fire plug costs.

Horsham Rural City Council tabled a response from Water and Environment Minister Lisa Neville at a meeting last week.

Ms Neville said property owners benefited from the infrastructure and should therefore pay for infrastructure costs through their council rates.

”I am satisfied that the Water Act 1989 and the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 reflect suitable cost recovery arrangements for fire plugs,” she said.

Ms Neville forwarded council’s Fire Services Property Levy request to the treasurer.

Cr David Grimble said firefighting infrastructure costs were an ongoing issue.

“It has fallen back in the past to particularly the local fire brigades and volunteers,” he said. 

“We’ve got urban firefighting infrastructure in rural areas, which has created a bit of a problem for us, because someone has to maintain it.

“Council doesn’t have the budget nor the resources to do that.

“If volunteers are providing the service, there should be a reduction in the fire services levy to volunteers to provide that level of service to the community.

“They maintain fire hydrants so fair and reasonably, they should get a reduction in the fire service levy they pay.” 

Cr Grimble suggested council pursue funding to help cover infrastructure costs.

Horsham Rural City Council’s technical services director John Martin said council was keen to get further correspondence from the treasurer.