BEULAH PARK FIRE STATION

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:05): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services questions about the Beulah Park Fire Station.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On Tuesday of last week the minister responded to a question from the Hon. Russell Wortley regarding efficient energy technology in new fire stations. In her answer, the minister referred to the Beulah Park fire station, which is currently under construction. I understand that it is expected to be operating in the very near future. My questions are:

1. Will the minister confirm that SA MFS management has not budgeted for the staffing of this new station?

2. Will the minister confirm that to cover this budget shortfall the backup appliance, otherwise known, I think, as pump 2, from the city fire station will be assigned to Beulah Park for an undetermined period of time.

3. What effect will such a move have on the overall capability of the city station?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for his question in relation to the Beulah Park fire station construction. As the honourable member would be aware, as I am sure we are all aware, South Australia is experiencing a residential and commercial construction high. So, I guess any suggestion of any perceived delay is not a result of any process or program within the MFS.

I say for the record, as I responded to the question from the Hon. Russell Wortley the other day, that we have taken the opportunity to use this time to adjust the program to dramatically deliver increased green initiatives in the building design for the $3.95 million Beulah Park station. This includes increasing the capacity of the grid connected photovoltaic solar panels from an originally planned 2 kilowatt capacity to 12 kilowatt capacity— a 6 fold increase.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Obviously members opposite are not interested to hear that. I think it is a good thing. Without any increase to the project budget—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Members opposite asked about the budget, so I am telling them about the budget. The other thing I place on the record is that the operational response is never compromised because the Glynde station remains until the Paradise and Beulah Park stations are online. All new MFS stations are built with two bay facilities for operational flexibility. The majority of MFS stations are, however, single appliance stations, unless there is an identified need, and we see that sometimes in commercially high risk areas. As I said, the Beulah Park station has been delayed somewhat because of the tremendous construction that we see in our state, which is, of course, welcome, I am sure.

The construction of the new Beulah Park fire station will replace the Glynde station at a total cost of nearly $4 million over the two budget years of 2006-07 and 2007-08. We will see the commencement of construction of the new Paradise station at a cost of $4 million over two years between 2007-08 and 2008-09 and, of course, we will also see the commencement in Port Lincoln, as well over two years. I think I have already placed on the record on a number of occasions the capital projects delivered during 2006-07, so I will not repeat those for the chamber.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Members opposite are never interested to hear all the good things that this government does. Service to the community in South Australia will never be compromised.