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Minister considers fire hydrant funding. 15 June 2007. North West WA News
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/wa/northwa/200706/s1952420.htm]
Friday, 15 June 2007. 10:38 (AWST)
Minister considers fire hydrant funding
The Western Australian Minister for Emergency Services, John Kobelke, says he will consider changes to the way fire hydrants for small shires are funded.
The move comes in response to complaints from volunteer bush firefighters in Gnowangerup, in the south-west, that a lack of hydrants forced them to stop work and re-fill their truck with water at a house fire this week.
Under current arrangements, outlying shires must fund their own hydrants, while in larger regional towns they are paid for by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) levy.
A spokesman for Mr Kobelke says that the Minister will work with local councils, like the Gnowangerup Shire Council and FESA to put a proposal to the Water Corporation for new funding for hydrants.
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