The City of Bunbury has thrown its support behind the introduction of a policy for its disaster relief donations.
The council voted unanimously for the “development and adoption” of a policy to govern its Disaster Relief Fund.
Made by the City’s Policy Review and Development Committee, it will govern the Disaster Relief Fund’s use by the council.
City of Bunbury Gary Brennan said the policy would assist council with future donations.
“We have a policy committee of councillors and staff, and that committee reviews all of our policies at least once every two years,” he said.
“We don’t have a policy dealing with disaster relief and that policy will be worked up by our staff and presented to the next meeting of the policy committee in February next year.”
Mr Brennan was adamant the policy would treat each donation on a case-by-case basis.
“The policy will assist how we allocate and how much we allocate,” he said.
"It’s another way for the council, on behalf of the community, to assist other communities in need.”
Mr Brennan stated the City kept a balance of $100,000 in the fund for each financial year.
The council recently voted to use $3000 from the fund to assist Vietnamese friendship city Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province following Typhoon Damrey in November.
In March 2011, the council first voted to establish the fund. Since then, the fund has assisted state, national and international disaster stricken areas.