PROTEST moves by CFA volunteers against new boundary realignments have led to an offer of compromise by CFA headquarters.
As debate continues to rage over how the CFA has introduced the state-wide boundary realignments, volunteers remain unhappy about what they call a "dictatorial approach" by CFA management.
The changes, which move many brigades away from traditional regions and into new groups, have been forced upon brigades without real consultation, volunteers say.
This has led to protest moves by the Bass Coast group, which has withdrawn some services in a bid to prevent its group being carved into two areas.
But region group officer Damien O'Connor said a Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria forum on the weekend was a "huge step forward".
"(CFA chief executive) Mick Bourke gave assurances about the compromise Bass Coast put forward and he made a public undertaking that he would personally work directly with Bass Coast to try to achieve compromise, and that's a huge step," Mr O'Connor said.
However Mr O'Connor said his group had not heard anything further from CFA management to confirm this would happen.
Mr Bourke told The Weekly Times he had committed to work with the group in coming weeks in an attempt to resolve its concerns.
"We'll keep working with Bass Coast and do what we can to accommodate their needs," Mr Bourke said.
CFA region eight operations manager Trevor Owen said boundary alignment was intended to allow the CFA to better plan for and manage future emergency events and work more collaboratively with other emergency services.
Meanwhile, in North East Victoria the Yarrawonga and Rutherglen-Springhurst groups are being forced to move from a Wangaratta base to new groups at Shepparton and Wodonga.
Local Nationals MP Ken Jasper said this was despite fierce opposition from volunteers to the changes.
Many volunteers in other remote rural areas remain unhappy with the CFA's changes.
Dunkeld CFA volunteer for 37 years and Serra region group communications officer, Peter Flinn, said the CFA was being "totally stifled by bureaucrats".
