THE Nationals have criticised Labor for failing to deliver an incident control centre in the Perth Hills ahead of what is expected to be a challenging summer.

WA Opposition Emergency Services spokesman Martin Aldridge said the area had been hit with storms and fires this year, with many households and businesses left without power, and only two of 13 recommendations into the Wooroloo bushfire independent inquiry completed.

Mr Aldridge said a Perth Hills incident control centre still had not started almost four years on from the Wooroloo bushfire, which claimed 86 homes and razed almost 11,000ha.

The Nationals Wheatbelt MLA and Bullwinkel candidate Mia Davies said despite an independent review recommending in late 2022 that a dedicated incident control centre be established in the Perth Hills, the state and federal Labor governments had made no progress.

The WA government noted the review’s recommendation while acknowledging the benefits of increasing incident management capacity in the Perth Hills and at the same time recognising the significant analysis and consultation that would be required.

On Wednesday Hasluck MHR Tania Lawrence said state and territory governments had the constitutionally enshrined primary responsibility for preparedness, response and recovery.

“We will continue to work with the Cook Government to achieve outcomes that help keep our communities safe,’’ she said.

“This includes our commitment to building an incident control centre to service the hills community.

“A federation funding agreement has been signed with the state government, and as part of this, the funding for the incident control centre was provided to the state government, as per my commitment ($3 million) at the 2022 election.

“We look forward to them delivering an operational facility appropriate to the needs of our community.”

The timeline in the Update on the Government Response to the Wooroloo Review dated February 2024 shows the Department Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was planning to present final options analysis to the government in March with the next steps for a new incident control centre to be confirmed based on WA government feedback.

A spokesman for Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said in response to the Wooroloo review and the recommendation to establish a dedicated Perth Hills incident response centre, DFES was progressing the recommendation and was currently evaluating options, which included reviewing several sites that could potentially meet requirements for the Perth Hills.

He said in addition, the government and DFES have opened a level 3 incident control centre in Gingin and DFES was working with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions on assessing how mobile incident control centres could be an alternative to better support operations.

Late Wednesday DFES said it continued to work with the state government on site options and analysis for a permanent structure in the Perth Hills.

“DFES is considering a range of both fixed and mobile incident control centre options that will enhance the state’s emergency response and management capabilities when natural disasters occur,’’ a spokesman said.

“DFES is currently constructing mobile incident control centres and expects to have at least four available for this bushfire season, which can be transported and established in a short space of time.’’