PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: SALISBURY METROPOLITAN FIRE STATION

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (11:06): I move:

That the 482^nd report of the committee, on the Salisbury Metro Fire Station, be noted.

The committee is told the MFS proposes to construct a new fire station at 1811 Main North Road, Salisbury Heights. The estimated capital construction cost of this initiative is $7.4 million, including civil works and access provisions for future co-sited SES facilities within overall site plan.

Among its many facilities, the building will include: four engine bays to accommodate fire appliances (which includes the capacity to accommodate the Bronto aerial appliance, if required, the largest appliance in the MFS fleet); an engine canopy to the rear of the four fire appliance bays; a planning office for operational station officers; a control room for managing callouts, a communications/equipment room; an office space for planning commanders; personal protective equipment storage and drying room; breathing apparatus servicing areas; a new 'dirty-to-clean' module featuring 'dirty' PPE decommissioning zone, 'clean' equipment zone, equipment servicing area, and shower/decontamination facilities; and a gymnasium. A purpose-built MFS fire station at Salisbury will provide the following benefits:

a facility which will increase the resources of the MFS to protect life, property and the environment from the effects of fire and other dangers to the growing residential, commercial and industrial assets in the northern suburbs of Adelaide;

a modern, environmentally-conscious, low-maintenance facility which accommodates emergency service appliances and equipment, as well as facilities for training and administration;

accommodation that will meet government security and accessibility standards;

the inclusion of environmental initiatives, including photovoltaic technology, water storage tanks, water recycling system, recycled construction and building materials, and low volatile organic compound linings; and

the building is strategically positioned towards the eastern side of the allotment to allow for a future co-sited allied service and MFS expansion of the facility on the western side of the allotment, as required.

The project will be completed by the beginning of 2015. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:09): The opposition supports the project.

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (11:09): As people know in this place, because I have said it a number of times, my father, Malcolm, was in the MFS for over 30 years. We lived at Salisbury when I was a kid. I went to Salisbury Consolidated Primary School. Why it was called 'consolidated primary school', I still do not know. Right next to the primary school was the EFS station, as it was then. The siren would go off for a fire call and classes had to stop because you could not hear yourself think, but things have certainly moved on from there.

I should say that dad did go to the Elizabeth Fire Station when that was first established in, I think, 1967 and they had a fire siren there to alert the retained firefighters, who were still being used way back then. They got 10 shillings a callout, I think it was, and in many cases, as dad was the officer on duty, he would go off in the fire appliance by himself and the other retained firefighters would come to the fire station, read what was written up on the chalkboard and then they would go off to the scene of the fire.

Again, we have seen this new fire station out at Elizabeth and things have certainly moved on since then. It is a very good thing. When dad first went to Salisbury Fire Station in 1977, it was where it is now on Frost Road. Salisbury was a much smaller place and Elizabeth was a much smaller place; in fact, they are almost one area now. Having said that, though, if you live in Elizabeth, you live in Elizabeth and if you live in Salisbury, you live in Salisbury. Mum still lives at Salisbury Park. Geographically I think it is called Elizabeth Vale, but she wants to live in Salisbury Park. She still lives there, so she will be served by this fire station, as will the many other people living in Salisbury.

The MFS should be congratulated on what they have been doing for many years serving South Australia. They had their 150-year celebration last year. The new station out at Elizabeth has been there for a few years now, and a new Glen Osmond station is just ready for the minister to cut the ribbon. To hear about this new fire station I think is a very good thing and I know my father would be very proud.

The SPEAKER: To answer the member for Morphett's question, Salisbury Consolidated School was known as Salisbury Consolidated because, in 1948, the prefabricated buildings from the Salisbury Extension School were moved to the grounds of the Salisbury Primary School and the name of the school was changed.

Dr McFETRIDGE: I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Mr Speaker, because nobody has been able to tell me that before—the font of wisdom.

Motion carried.