EP brigades take a stand

Greenpatch captain Mark Modra said they felt the decision was necessary.

"Fighting those fires accounts for half the time we spend as volunteers," he said.

"When we get one in these areas, we know we're going to be there for a long time.

"Our biggest issue is the unfairness of this tax. It seems that country people are paying proportionately more than what they should."

Mr Modra said the CFS volunteers' contribution should be recognised.

"We feel that the volunteers that work within the CFS, who are spending more than 50 hours a year contributing, should be exempt from the ESL or be given major concessions," he said.

Mr Modra said he had received many phone calls and text messages of support since his brigade made its stance public.

"Many people are not happy with the ESL hike and our government," he said.

"Our little protest is not likely to change anything. But if people want to make a change they need to take action; every brigade needs to if they want change."

Mr Modra said the brigade's action should not pose unnecessary risk to private property.

"It does raise the risk a little, but if we have a fire burning outside the national park, we're ready for it," he said.

"We felt we had to to take a stand. While most people could afford this hike, the question is what happens next year and the year after?

"A lot of volunteer groups actively raise their own funds for equipment and a lot of money from our members and the community pocket supports the CFS, yet the government still wants us to contribute more on top of that."

Kapinnie captain Dale Howell said his brigade also felt it had to take a stand.

"With the level of ESL increases, there doesn't seem to be any consistency," he said.

"Some have gone up 200 per cent, others 10-fold."

Mr Howell agreed that it would be good to see CFS volunteers either exempt from the levy, or receiving a concession.

* Full report in Stock Journal, November 13, 2014 issue.