FIGHT CONTINUES

20 February 2010

RYAN REYNOLDS

A HANDFUL of volunteers from the Dergholm Fire Brigade will continue to fight to remain in region four.

The change proposed by the State Government will see Dergholm move from region four at Casterton only 35km away to Horsham's region 17 over 145km away because the town is in the West Wimmera Shire.

A report handed down by the Royal Commission suggested that CFA regions should be governed by the shire they were in.

Angry members from crews around the Dergholm area held a meeting this week to discuss the issues involved with the proposed changes to the region.

Murray Davis, a volunteer for 46 years, said members at the meeting wanted to stay in region four.

"We had about 40 people come to the meeting and they were from a few different places; we even had people from Edenhope," he said.

"It was a good turn out; everyone wants to make sure that it is sorted out."

He said if a solution could not be found then members would look at their options.

"If the CFA continues to push it then we will have a meeting about what we would do," he said.

"There are other alternatives that we could do if we agreed to it."

Mr Davis said there was a loophole that could allow Dergholm to stay in region four.

"We are located in two municipalities, one which would make us region four and the other would make us region 17," he said.

"I think they might be trying to hide the fact that we are (in two shires). We should be able to choose which region we should be in."

CFA south-west general manager Adam Rogers said the CFA was giving those affected by the changes an option.

"They will have the option of which group they associate with," he said.

"Whatever they choose, we will work with them. We want to encourage a relationship between brigades and the municipalities they are in."

Mr Rogers said there would be no affect on the brigade's ability to put out fires.

"It is a management issue rather than anything else," he said.

"Their ability to combat fires will not be affected. There will not be a change to how they respond to fires."

Mr Davis said there was no need to change something that wasn't broken.

"Casterton has been our focal point for a long time and it has been fine," he said.

"Since the fires there has been a change to government policy.

"The Royal Commission is making things happen quicker and part of that is making a town's region related to the shire they are in."

He said a change could cause confusion within the community.

"People in the areas affected can't read the papers that they need to," Mr Davis said.

"If there is a fire ban day or fire restrictions come in then how is everyone meant to know? Region 17 brings in fire restrictions three weeks earlier then what region four do."

He said the whole situation did not make sense.

"When you look at it we are totally different," Mr Davis said.

"Our geographic location and climate are all that of the Western District. It is a different part of the country."

* Dergholm Fire Brigade's communications officer Donna Spratling contacted The Spectator on Thursday to stress Mr Davis's opinion was not endorsed by the brigade.