Hundreds rally at Winchelsea against emergency services levy

Hundreds of volunteers, community members and at least 60 firetrucks descended on a quiet country hamlet west of Geelong on Saturday to protest a controversial state levy. SEE THE PICS

Between 60 and 80 fire trucks descended on the Winchelsea Tearooms in the main street as a protest to the fire levy. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Hundreds of volunteer fireys and community members gathered at a rally in Winchelsea on Saturday to protest the Victorian government’s emergency services levy.

Between 60 to 80 fire trucks from brigades across two CFA districts, including as far afield as Carlisle River in the Otways, were in attendance, with a a dense crowd packing Winchelsea’s local government precinct.

Winchelsea CFA captain Kaylene Stocks said she lost count how many trucks joined the rally, but said the shire compound was packed.

Picture: Mike Dugdale

She said the rally was a show of unity that between CFA brigades.

“It’s kind of one in, all in,” Ms Stocks said.

“Being part of the CFA is being part of a family, we all need to look out for each other and make sure that we’re supporting each other in every way possible.”

The rally came a day after premier Jacinta Allan announced Victorian farmers would get a one-year reprieve from contributing to increased Emergency Services Levies.

Picture: Mike Dugdale

Ms Stock said the drought relief repreive for farmers would be “a little bit of a break” but one year might not be enough.

“How long is it going take (farmers) to recover from this drought?” she said.

“It’s not going to be something that they’re going to bounce into... it’s going to take at least ten years to recover financially from the drought.”

Between 60 and 80 fire trucks descended on the Winchelsea Tearooms in the main street as a protest to the fire levy. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Among the speakers who addressed the crowd were local Liberal MPs, Richard Riordan and Bev McArthur.

Ms Stock said it was not the end of the fight to scrap the levy, and Winchelsea CFA brigade would join other brigades in their own rallies in the future to keep the issue in the public conciousness.

“We’ve had up to 60 trucks support us, and now we’re ready to support up to 60 brigades, or whoever needs us to go,” she said, adding it would directly affect CFA funding.

“The more exposure is out there, the more people are going to realize just what impact this is having.”

The rally is not the first protest regarding the controversial levy.

On budget day, a convoy of CFA trucks travelled from Batesford to Brougham St, to protest outside Western Victorian MP Gayle Tierney’s office.

Liberal MP's Beverley McArthur and Richard Riordan and rally organiser and MC Rod Taylor from the Winchelsea CFA Brigade. Picture: Mike Dugdale

EARLIER: Furious volunteers and community members to protest levy

Hundreds of fed up volunteers and community members will protest the state government’s emergency services levy west of Geelong, despite announced changes on Friday.

At least 50 vehicles will make their way up the main street of Winchelsea at 8am on Saturday, moving from the Country Fire Authority station to the shire tearooms.

Local MP’s Richard Riordan and Bev McArthur are set to address the crowd among other speakers.

It comes after Jacinta Allan announced Victorian farmers would get a one-year reprieve from paying increased Emergency Services Levies as part of a drought package on Friday.

Winchelsea CFA captain Kaylene Stocks said the changes would make little difference on the impact to local communities.

CFA volunteer firefighters and their trucks line the streets of Geelong to protest the fire levy. Picture: Alison Wynd

“What people don’t realise is that it’s not just about the farmers, it’s about everybody,” Ms Stocks said.

“It’s going to hit all members of our township, we do have farmers in our brigade, but this is going to affect renters, people with mortgages, business owners, the prices in our shops will go up.”

Ms Stocks said morale in the country town had been grim over the past few weeks as anxiety continues over the levy.

“I am an empathetic person,” she said.

“I’m not going to lie, my anxiety has been really high, just in concern of some of our Winch’ group members that are farmers.

Kaylene Stocks is the Captain of the Winchelsea CFA. Picture : Ian Currie

“I’ve had a few conversations, and you can tell by those conversations that things aren’t good.

“Regardless of what the government does, at this point, I think the damage is done.”

Despite this, Ms Stocks said it had been encouraging to see the community galvanise in opposition to the tax.

“We’ve had a really good response,” she said.

“We had a meeting about making plans on what we should do, and everyone was in agreeance.

“We haven’t had any backlash at all.”

Volunteers took part in mass protests last week in Geelong and Melbourne after the bill to enact the levy was passed.

It comes as the CFA make applications to Surf Coast Council to extend their Winchelsea station.

The $130k plan would see the station’s turnout room extended and will be before council until June 3.

Originally published as Hundreds rally at Winchelsea against emergency services levy