By David Kavanagh | posted on November 15, 2019
PLANS for a new bush fire brigade comprised of Pardelup prison inmates and staff have been temporarily put on ice following a surprise development at last week’s Council meeting.
Plantagenet councillors were unable to vote on Item 9.4.4, which recommended the formation of the Pardelup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, because it was removed from the agenda at the last minute.
Plantagenet CEO Rob Stewart said the move was the result of legal advice received by the Department of Justice.
“I am not privy to that advice but hope to put the matter back up for Council consideration as soon as possible,” he said.
In a report prepared prior to the meeting, Mr Stewart noted a brigade “attached to a prison” was “markedly different” to the Shire’s other brigades.
He noted there was a potential of conflict between the Bush Fires Act 1954 and the Prisons Act 1981.
“The potential conflict I referred to related to provisions in the Bush Fires Act that puts volunteer brigade personnel under the supervision of the Chief Bush Fire Control Officer,” he told the Weekender.
“This could create issues with the duties of prison officers and the Prisons Act with relation to prisoners.
“Hopefully this wouldn’t be an issue though as we restricted the operational area of the brigade to the boundaries of the prison.”
The idea to form a volunteer brigade made up of inmates and staff was first floated by Pardelup Prison Superintendent Jodi Miller at a September 18 meeting of Shire representatives and others.
Mr Stewart said Ms Miller was “very keen for the prison to be pulling its weight” with the suppression of fires in the area and believed the brigade would assist reintegration of the inmates nearing the end of their sentences.
“Should the Council be able to create the brigade, we would like to get it established and operating immediately, subject to adequate training of brigade members and issuing of personal protective equipment,” he said.
“The prison already has an old fire fighting appliance and we would expect it would need to be replaced.
“We would expect the brigade to be especially useful with mopping up activities and fuel reduction burns.”
