Sampson Flat and Tantanoola Bushfires

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (16:08): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: On Monday 29 December 2014, the Bureau of Meteorology advised the South Australian Country Fire Service that significant fire weather was approaching that would impact on the majority of the state. On Friday 2 January, the actual weather conditions reached those forecast and a number of fires started across the state, including at Sampson Flat and Tantanoola—areas that had been declared as catastrophic fire districts the previous afternoon.

Through Friday and Saturday, the Sampson Flat fire intensified, threatening the towns of Kersbrook, Gould Creek, Hermitage, Inglewood, Paracombe, Cudlee Creek, Gumeracha, Kenton Valley, Birdwood, Forreston, Mount Crawford, South Para and Humbug Scrub. It also threatened the heavily populated suburbs of Greenwith and Golden Grove.

The Sampson Flat fire, with a perimeter of 222 kilometres, was the most significant in size and danger that has been experienced in the Adelaide Hills since the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires and, accordingly, the police commissioner declared a major emergency. As usual, our volunteers sprang into action to protect not only their communities but also the communities of others. In fact, close to 200 CFS brigades from across the state joined the fight, comprising about 3,500 firefighters.

The CFS were supported by many other agency staff and volunteers, including hundreds of SES staff and volunteers, almost 500 MFS firefighters, and significant contributions from SAFECOM, SAPOL, St John, Salvation Army, SAAS, SA Water, ForestrySA, SAVEM and DEWNR, amongst many others. The CFS issued 25,000 voice messages and 160,000 text messages to warn people in the vicinity of the fires of the impending danger and how best to respond. Relief centres were also established in Golden Grove and Willaston to accommodate residents who had heeded those warnings and left their homes.

This fire burned over 12,500 hectares, and it is truly remarkable that no-one was killed. While it is devastating that 27 homes were lost, this number could have been much higher. Another 34 houses were damaged and 103 outbuildings destroyed. Over 200 vehicles were also destroyed, along with approximately 900 livestock; 11 small businesses have also been significantly affected by the fires.

During the fires, there were 62 firefighter-related injuries reported. All of these were considered minor in nature. We are extremely grateful that the volunteers returned home safely. This is a testament to the training and professionalism of the emergency services sector. The fire was finally considered contained on 7 January.

It must not be forgotten that, at the same time as the Sampson Flat fire, CFS staff and volunteers, along with ForestrySA, were busy fighting the Tantanoola fire in the South-East. I visited the affected area, and this fire had the potential to travel through the outskirts of Mount Gambier and beyond towards Victoria, impacting the surrounding communities. Due to the remarkable efforts of firefighters, the Tantanoola fire was quickly contained as it moved out of the plantation forest before it could impact on the surrounding communities.

While the flashing sirens have stopped and the media has abated, local, state and commonwealth government agencies are continuing to work together to assist people affected by the fires. The state government has committed $21 million of assistance to the communities affected by the bushfires. Ms Karlene Maywald has also been appointed as the Local Recovery Coordinator. Importantly, the community has pulled together to help their friends and neighbours to recover from the fire, and the State Emergency Relief Fund has received almost $1.5 million from 3,000 generous donators.

At this point, I would like to acknowledge the great support our firefighters received from our interstate colleagues, particularly from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, who sent almost 600 personnel, as well as the 280 personnel from the Victorian Country Fire Authority and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. The New South Wales and Victorian governments also contributed 15 firefighting aircraft.

Other jurisdictions also provided offers of assistance and made contingency plans to assist our state, if needed, for which the government was extremely grateful. I have written to my counterparts thanking them for their support. I would also like to thank the commonwealth government and particularly the Department of Defence, which provided—

Mr Marshall: The CFS.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Sorry?

Mr Marshall: How are you going to thank the CFS?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I also would like to thank the Department of Defence and the commonwealth, who provided access to the RAAF base at Edinburgh, which was used for refuelling firefighting aircraft.

Once again, our emergency services and the community have banded together against mother nature and showed the strength of our state and its communities. On behalf of the state government, the parliament and the people of South Australia, I again thank the CFS and our emergency services personnel, and all those staff, volunteers, community groups and individuals who came together in our time of need.