29/11/04
Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts said today the Emergency Services Levy was providing unprecedented support to boosting fire and emergency services in the Wanneroo area.
"Wanneroo Mayor Jon Kelly does not know what he is talking about and seems bent on peddling mistruths and trying to drum up business for his political ambitions," Mrs Roberts said.
"This year, well in excess of $4million is being directly spent on significantly increasing the fire and emergency services within the Wanneroo area.
"This includes grants to local governments to fund the volunteer bush fire brigades and SES unit and running the Wangara and Joondalup career fire stations and the Yanchep Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service brigade.
"The levy also funds other emergency services that are not stationed within the city's boundaries but are essential, such as the Helitacs and waterbombers which appear frequently in the Wanneroo area during the bushfire season.
"This is the levy at work protecting the local community and it is about time that Mayor Jon Kelly realised the important role the levy played in boosting community safety."
The Minister said the local community was also benefiting from levy funds spent throughout the Perth metropolitan area.
"Emergency services do not operate on local government boundaries, so neither does their funding," she said.
"The large bushfire at Nowergup last January had fire appliances come from all over the metro area as well as units from Chittering and Gingin to assist.
"This is what the levy is all about - having the resources and specialised emergency equipment located throughout the metropolitan area and in readiness to be called upon where and when needed."
Mrs Roberts said Mr Kelly's statement that services provided by the city could be threatened if ESL funding was not increased was a complete nonsense and was creating unnecessary concern within the community.
"The city has not spent all the grant funding that was provided, and yet here is the Wanneroo Mayor crying poor - why is he trying to hoodwink people?" she asked.
"The City of Wanneroo's acquittance of their 2003-04 ESL operating grant shows they spent only $243,318 of the $305,400 allocated."
Mrs Roberts also refuted Mr Kelly's claims that funding to the City of Wanneroo had been cut by $395,000.
"Mr Kelly's figures just don't add up," she said.
"This year, the City of Wanneroo was allocated $366,400 in grants, the year before it was allocated $555,400. The difference is simply because of capital grant allocations which vary from year to year.
"Local governments won't get new capital equipment every year. Fire appliances have a working life ranging between five to 20 years, thus there is no need for them to receive new appliances each year.
"The City of Wanneroo's capital allocation in 2003-04 consisted of two light tankers valued at $75,000 each and $100,000 for a new fire station.
"In 2004-05 they were allocated one light tanker valued at $79,000.
"Depending on what vehicles need to be replaced, their allocation next year could exceed that of previous years.
"Overall, the expenditure of ESL funds on fire and emergency services in the Wanneroo area has increased this year, compared with last year."
Minister's office: 9213 6600
