A draft budget for the 2015/2016 period prepared by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) South West Slopes Zone Manager has been submitted to Council for deliberation. The budget has been prepared on the basis that the current RFS Zone headquarters will be moved from Harden to Young. The multi-million dollar project may end up being built in the Cherry Capital, much to the distain of local volunteers and Harden Shire Council.
The relocation of the RFS Zone headquarters has been a contentious issue, with the Harden Shire Council even applying for Crown Land near the Harden racecourse for a future Zone headquarters site.
The RFS has hired an independent consultant to review the issue of locating the headquarters at either Young or Harden. The consultant’s report has been submitted, and its findings will be presented at a meeting with representatives of RFS’s Head Office and representatives of Young and Harden Shire Council’s on Friday.
“Will the report contain a final decision?” asked Harden Shire Council General Manager, Trevor Drowley. “Probably not. It is probably going to be more of an overview, rather than an outline of future plans,” he said.
Meanwhile, the prospective 2015/2016 budget has been drafted with the $1,024,001.00 cost of constructing of the new Zone headquarters in Young in mind. Upgrades to existing RFS stations are to be deferred, and older tankers will be replaced with second hand tankers in order to accommodate the costs of the new headquarters. Harden Shire Council has been allocated a $195,500.00 share in construction of the new Zone headquarters in Young.
In total, the costs to Council stipulated within the 2015/2016 budget to be approved, after Volunteer & Statewide Support (VASS) contributions are taken into account, totals $119,339.69. If the South West Slopes Zone headquarters were to remain in Harden, the expected cost to Council would rise to $125,814.15.
The budget will go before Council at its February 18 Business meeting. Harden Council has provided a rent free site to the RFS for over 15 years and is the current auspicing authority. A move to Young may sour negotiations regarding amalgamation.