EYRE PENINSULA BUSHFIRES

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:16): I rise today to speak about the most recent in a number of events that have threatened both life and property in the Port Lincoln area on Eyre Peninsula. Unfortunately, the threat of fire in our part the world has become all too familiar, but the most recent was in fact last Sunday on Remembrance Day, 11 November, when a fire began on private property west of Sleaford Mere, west of Port Lincoln.

It burnt some 1,800 hectares of mostly private land, a combination of scrub and pasture. I understand the Premier made a ministerial statement here in the house yesterday. In fact, I was present in Port Lincoln yesterday on the fire ground. and I will acknowledge the visit made yesterday by ministers Rankine and Hunter. I appreciate it and I thank them for that.

The fire ultimately destroyed two homes, 14 cabins, which were on the foreshore at Sleaford Mere, a caravan, a campervan, several sheds and four vehicles. Sadly, an estimated 300 sheep were also lost in that fire, so that was an unfortunate incident. PIRSA is investigating further stock losses. Koalas were also burnt in that fire: some were destroyed and others are being taken care of by the Port Lincoln veterinary service.

Fortunately, there were no serious injuries as a result of that fire, and I would like to thank and congratulate the emergency services personnel who attended this incident. Their swift response was paramount in enabling us to control the fire and prevent further damage to the community and the environment.

The CFS, the MFS, the South Australian police and the SES were all present. DEWNR were present on the fire ground and I will congratulate them for the back-burn that they undertook. In fact, most of the smoke that occurred and was visible on Sunday afternoon was probably from that back-burn. It was carried out successfully and really enabled those present on the fire ground to contain that fire and, ultimately, protect the township of Tulka and, further east, Port Lincoln.

I must also acknowledge all those others who volunteered time and effort—the Salvation Army, schoolchildren who assisted in setting up tents at the local sporting complex, businesses and local businesses who provided many volunteers and also provided meals for those volunteers. I think it is probably another timely reminder to all to update their bushfire survival plan. 'Be prepared' is the message. I note that the city council at Port Lincoln has had a very active and hardworking bushfire committee, and I congratulate them. I was talking with the CFS community engagement officer as recently as yesterday. She had been working with the community at Sleaford Bay for the last two years and, in her mind, that community was as prepared as they possibly could be.

The reality was much property was defended and saved from the ravages of the bushfire: some, unfortunately, were destroyed. My thoughts and commiserations go to those families and individuals who were impacted by the fire and who had their accommodation and home destroyed. I trust that you will receive all the support that you need and deserve at this time and can go about rebuilding your lives.

Another mention that I will make (and this is a relatively recent development, I guess, in the strategies against bushfire and really came as a result of the now infamous Wangary fire back in 2005) is that we now have available at our call the water bomber facility, and that played a very active role last Sunday. They fly over the fire front and deliberately drop large loads of water in an effort to control and contain the fire. Congratulations and thanks to them also.

Of course, it is emergency service week and, in my new role as the shadow minister for those organisations, I congratulate and thank them. I understand that the member for Morialta is also going to acknowledge them in his grieve today.