EYRE PENINSULA EMERGENCY SERVICES

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. Will the minister inform the house how the state government is improving facilities for our emergency service volunteers on Eyre Peninsula?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): I thank the member for Mitchell for his question, and I know that he has a great deal of appreciation and support for our emergency service volunteers. Two weeks ago, Madam Speaker, as you know, I was privileged to visit emergency service workers and volunteers across Eyre Peninsula, from Ceduna to Whyalla, down to Tumby Bay and Port Lincoln. Since 2010, more than $850,000 has been spent on building or upgrading CFS stations in this region.

I had the honour of opening three new CFS stations during my visit at Rudall, Wharminda and Tuckey. During the trip, I also visited the recently extended Wirrulla station. The volunteers I had the pleasure of meeting serve as part of CFS Region 6, which covers 200,000 square kilometres of the state. With just over 1,300 volunteers, region 6 includes Whyalla and Port Lincoln and extends to the Maralinga lands and the Western Australian border.

To ensure volunteers have the facilities they need, a special building program for the region began in 2010. Ten single-bay fire stations have been completed, with a further three to follow. Funding has been provided from the CFS capital budget which is now just under $15 million a year. A further $3.55 million has been added through an election commitment from this government to accelerate works and maintenance on CFS and SES facilities.

I also had the chance to briefly visit the newly completed SES station at Tumby Bay. Just under $1 million was spent on this project and I look forward to returning soon, once it is fully up and running, to see it in operation. I handed over the keys to two new CFS vehicles. Over $500,000 has been spent to provide a new 3-4 truck for the Kimba brigade and a bulk water carrier for the Tumby Bay group.

In a region that has been hit hard by disasters—most notably the Port Lincoln fires of 2005—I hope these new buildings and vehicles serve their communities well. I would also like to pass on my appreciation for the hospitality I received from the volunteers and the emergency services personnel I met during this trip. The warm welcome I received from our country volunteers was greatly appreciated and I look forward to returning to this beautiful part of South Australia again soon.