Shire votes against $1.9m loan to build new SES facility in Mt Barker as old shed with asbestos is condemned

The Shire of Plantagenet has turned down the opportunity to borrow money to fund building a new Mt Barker State Emergency Service facility. The facility on Ormond Road is no longer fit for purpose according to the shire, with one building with asbestos already condemned. The proposal to use a self-supporting loan was rejected at the council meeting on March 24 even though the repayments would be reimbursed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Councillors voted 7-1 against taking out the $1.9m loan saying other ways of paying for the project needed to be investigated. Only Cr Andrew Fraser voted with the officers’ recommendation to pursue the loan application. Shire president Len Handasyde said DFES had originally indicated it would fund the project but the council’s application, submitted in the 2024-25 local government grants scheme, was knocked back. DFES said it had too many requests for its limited budget and suggested a self-supporting loan instead. Under these loans, the local government is responsible for making repayments which are then reimbursed by DFES. However, if DFES should default, the loan would become the shire’s responsibility. Cr Handasyde said the council already had a self-supporting loan, which it used to build fire sheds in Rocky Gully and Woogenellup, and having another on its books could undermine the shire’s ability to borrow in the future. “The current building is not fit for purpose by current standards and needs to be rebuilt,” he said. “The shire is strongly in support of getting this thing sorted out — we support our SES and all the volunteers. “But this funding model is a palaver for local government to have on its books because of all the process around it — all this nonsense doesn’t need to be there.” He said discussions with DFES would continue and were already ongoing. The proposed new facility would be in Marmion Street, adjacent to Frost Park. The area is grassed and would need an access track and carpark as part of the initial site works which would cost about $1.5m. The aim is to provide a two-bay building and include space for storing equipment, vehicles and trailers. The administration area would have operations and communications rooms and be suitable for training.