Former state MP for Monaro Steve Whan (who is now shadow Special Minister of State) said the state government’s cost cutting measures were being put ahead of safety.

“Closing the Perisher Valley fire station will endanger lives and properties in Perisher, Guthega, Smiggins, Charlotte Pass and Jindabyne,” Mr Whan said.

The Minister for Emergency Services had failed to answer correspondence from concerned businesses and ignored serious questions put to him by Perisher, the local Chamber of Commerce, business owners and the ski lodges organisation (SLOPES).

Mr Whan also attacked his successor as local Member, John Barilaro, who had been “derelict in his duty” by just parroting the lines given to him about this service being too expensive.

In response Mr Barilaro said Mr Whan was scaremongering and was out of his depth.

He said Fire & Rescue NSW planned to withdraw the costly permanent firefighters from Perisher Valley during the off season and replace them with a crew of retained firefighters, as was the case in Jindabyne and Thredbo.

“The year-round permanent firefighter model was never properly funded by Mr Whan and the Labor Government and has created a massive budget black hole that we are trying to remedy,” Mr Barilaro said.

“This is not a political decision. This was a decision made by senior firefighters with over 30 years of experience.”

Mr Whan had not turned up to a community consultation which showed he didn’t really care about the issue, he said.