A leading Australian pyrotechnician who is booked to put on Mandurah’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display has raised concerns he won’t be able to do the job because the state government has banned local volunteer firefighters from using its assets at the show.
Rob Cardile, managing director of Cardile International Fireworks, said the family-owned business had been putting on fireworks displays in Mandurah for 60 years and had been making donations to volunteer firefighting units to have them on standby for the past 20.
But he said a Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) rule prevented government-owned firefighting assets being used by Mr Cardile to fulfill his licence obligations.
He said he would be forced to bring private firefighting crews from Perth instead.
“DFES is saying to me, you can’t use government assets for private businesses like myself,” Mr Cardile said.
“But whether the City of Mandurah request the volunteers come down, or I do, it’s a community event. I can send a Perth crew down for $250 no problems, but why do the local crews have to miss out on it?”
Mr Cardile said he managed to find a private contractor to come to Mandurah on Tuesday night for the Christmas Pageant fireworks, but he was having difficulty securing a firefighting crew for New Year’s Eve.
“These volunteers are out there in the community, they’re keen, they’re wanting to help the local community,” he said.
These volunteers are out there in the community, they’re keen, they’re wanting to help the local community.
- Rob Cardile
“If they’re not going to allow it in Mandurah, what happens when I go to do the job in Kambalda on the weekend or jobs in Port Hedland or Esperance or Kalgoorlie?”
DFES Superintendent Metro South Coastal Brad Miles said the rule had been in place since 2014.
“Firework contractors are responsible for supplying their own fire protection resources. It is not appropriate for DFES to supply public funded assets to businesses for commercial gain,” he said.
“During the high risk bushfire period, it is essential career and volunteer fire brigades are available to attend emergencies at a moment’s notice.
“DFES’s top priority is the safety of the community.”