That request was denied at council’s ordinary meeting at St Georges Basin on Tuesday night.

“We don’t want to increase rates any further,” Cr Joanna Gash said.

Cr John Wells warned his peers council would be unlikely to recoup any costs from the Berry RFS station on Albert Street, which is on council land, set to be decommissioned.

“Don’t anticipate any money for the building,” he said.

“I have heard there are plans to use it for art exhibitions.

“Throwing $400,000 towards the new site would set a dangerous precedent.

“We would be contributing 45 per cent of the cost, much more than the standard 11 per cent.”

Cr Greg Watson urged his peers to dig deep and support RFS volunteers in funding the new station.

“Some would say it’s by the grace of God we didn’t have a major fire incident in the Shoalhaven this summer,” he said.

“There are enormous fuel loads out there.

“By knocking this back, we’re not being mean to the state government, we’re being mean to volunteers.”

Council’s recommendation was to knock back funds for the station.

Councillors followed the recommendation.

FOR: Crs Patricia White, John Levett, Wells, Gash, Nina Cheyne, Kaye Gartner

AGAINST: Crs Andrew Guile, Bob Proudfoot, Watson, Pakes

ABSENT: Crs Annette Alldrick, Amanda Findley, Mark Kitchener