SOMERSET Regional Council has contributed $840,920 to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) for the period ended 31 March 2024.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said these funds provide vital support for emergency services.

“These funds are meant for our partners QFES to make sure that our urban firefighters and other emergency personnel have the resources they need to do the job,” Cr Wendt said.

“This includes attending flooding, road crashes and other emergencies, in addition to fires.

“While Somerset has become better prepared for disasters, we still live in a part of the world where flood and fire risk exist.”

Cr Wendt said it was important that Somerset residents take steps to prepare themselves and their properties to manage their own risks.

“Knowing we have volunteer and paid emergency services ready to protect the community is also a big part of managing risk in Somerset,” he said.

“For this reason, a portion of every rate notice paid goes towards helping manage emergency service costs.”

In addition to the $840,920, Council recently processed payments of about $160,000 to Somerset rural fire brigades.