Bushfire Preparedness

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:05): My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Can you advise the house about the actions being taken by the state government ahead of the fire season?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:05): I would like to thank the member for her question and also her keen interest in the various emergency services in her electorate, particularly the CFS brigades.

Persistent, warmer than average conditions throughout spring have meant fuel loads across the state are drier, and there is a greater risk of bushfire. As such, the dates for the 2015-16 fire danger season have been brought forward in nine of the 15 fire districts, most of which commence this Sunday, 1 November. Last Sunday, the chief officers from the CFS, MFS and SES and I launched Bushfire Action Week in Balhannah with assistance from volunteers and paid emergency services personnel from across the sector.

Bushfire Action Week is a statewide campaign that is designed as a 'call to action' for all South Australians. Since Sunday, a range of activities hosted by the CFS across the state have occurred to encourage all South Australians to be aware of the risks and to take appropriate action in relation to bushfire preparedness. The fire danger season communication campaign has also commenced and the public will be educated about being bushfire ready.

The CFS has 17 aircraft contracted for the 2015-16 fire danger season. Aircraft start dates will be determined in line with the fire danger and will be staggered to ensure maximum fleet availability during the height of the fire danger season in January and February next year. The CFS also has access to the State Rescue Helicopter Service including provision of an additional rotary wing aircraft for total fire ban days in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Additional aircraft, if required, will be sourced through the National Aerial Firefighting Centre Resource Management Agreement. This includes access to large air tankers in Victoria and New South Wales. While aircraft are a valuable firefighting resource, they do not replace the need for firefighters on the ground. Aircraft cannot work at night or in low visibility conditions during the day.

The community should be reassured that the CFS, both staff and volunteers, are busy preparing for the fire danger season. The CFS is also working closely with the MFS, SES, SAFECOM, DEWNR, ForestrySA, SA Water and SAPOL, amongst many other agencies, including local councils and interstate partners, to ensure that we are as ready and prepared as much as possible.

Two weeks ago I held discussions with the Hon. Jane Garrett, the Victorian Minister for Emergency Services. Ms Garrett met with our emergency services chiefs and me to discuss how we can assist each other in major events, including the sharing of resources. I thank the minister for visiting Adelaide and reassuring us of her state's support.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind the community that preparing for the fire danger season is a joint and shared responsibility. The emergency services cannot do this alone. The community, including people who live in peri-urban areas who may not think they are threatened by bushfires, need to ensure they clear their properties of fuel and establish and/or rehearse their bushfire survival plans. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated emergency service staff and volunteers and wish them well for the potentially dangerous period that lies ahead.