Victorian man seeks legal advice over Manypeaks fireworks blaze

A Victorian man charged over sparking a major bushfire at the Normans Beach campsite in January which forced campers and residents to flee for safety and cost emergency services $95,000 to extinguish has had his case remanded for legal advice.

Jason Peter Boede, 24, of Thomastown did not appear in Albany Magistrate’s Court today charged with breach of duty — for being in charge of a source of ignition and not taking precautions to avoid starting a fire.

Mr Boede, who was represented by a defence lawyer in court, is alleged to have set off fireworks at the Normans Beach campsite on New Year’s Day sparking coastal vegetation about 10pm.

The fire burnt 2100 hectares and took firefighters 10 days to extinguish and destroyed four Western Power electricity poles, threatened a critical supply of Albany’s drinking water and had a significant ecological impact on declared rare flora and fauna.

The effort to supress the fire was estimated to have cost emergency services $95,000.

Mr Boede handed himself in to police in Ceduna, South Australia, on January 3 after he and his friends became aware police wished to speak to them.

In court on Thursday, defence lawyer Tony Chilvers told the court he was still waiting on a copy of Mr Boede’s video record of interview with the police and police statements and requested a four-week adjournment for legal advice.

Magistrate Tanya Watt, who questioned why Mr Boede was summonsed to appear for an indictable charge, requested Mr Boede appear via video link at his next appearance on March 31.