Located in the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, the Oakford Volunteer Bushfire Brigade operate on privately owned land at 1099 Nicholson Road, Oakford. In March 2015, the property was sold for development.

A lease agreement between the Shire and the new owner was executed on 1 March 2017 and expired on 30 June 2019. Since the expiration of the lease, the agreement has been in a holdover state, which allows the Shire to continue to use the site under the terms of the expired agreement, but either party may terminate the tenancy by giving one month’s notice.

In December 2016, the Shire negotiated with a landowner on Kargotich Road for the new Oakford station. Since then, progress toward constructing a new Oakford station has been unremarkable.

• In September 2017, the Community Infrastructure Implementation Plan listed a Shire contribution of $2,000,000 to build the new Oakford station that never eventuated.
• In September 2021, the State Government offered the Shire a $1.105 million self-supporting loan through the Emergency Services Levy for a new Oakford station.
• In October 2021, the Shire responded to the State Government’s self-supporting loan offer for the new Oakford station, advising that the Shire doesn’t have a practice of taking out loans mid-budget stream and would be presented as part of the 22/23 budget for Council’s consideration.
• In August 2022, the Shire adopted the 22/23 budget, omitting the self-supporting loan for consideration, and reduced the Oakford Firestation reserve account.

Without a new fire station on land that isn’t privately owned, the future of the Oakford Volunteer Bushfire Brigade is uncertain, presenting a severe risk to the community.

You can help Oakford get the new station they desperately need by lending your support. This petition will be presented to:

• The Honourable Mark McGowan MLA
  The Premier of Western Australia
• The Honourable Stephen Dawson MLC
  Minister for Emergency Services
• Mr Hugh Jones MLA
  Member for Darling Range
• Mr Darren Klemm AFSM
  Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner
• Mr Paul Martin
  Chief Executive Officer, Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale
• Media outlets
  The West Australian, ABC News, Channel 7, Channel 9, and Channel 10.