Penola North Fire Tower

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Forest Industries. Will the minister update the council about the recent construction of the Penola North fire tower in the state's South-East?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his question. As members in this place would be aware, the state government is busy delivering a suite of forestry election commitments for the industry, unlike members opposite, who failed to announce any forestry policies in the lead-up to the last election.

Unlike those opposite, we worked closely with industry on a platform that would help the sector grow. The government is investing over $20 million in forestry-related projects, including the investment of $2.346 million to upgrade the Green Triangle fire tower network. The forest industry is worth over $1.4 billion to the South Australian economy and provides employment to 18,000 people, both directly and indirectly. That is why we must ensure forest plantations are protected, as far as possible, from the ongoing risks which bushfires present. Bushfires are a major risk and an ongoing challenge that the industry faces, and it needs to ensure that the billions of dollars worth of fibre is protected.

I recently had the opportunity to join local South-East company Whitty Engineering in announcing construction was well underway for the Penola North fire tower. I thank William from Whitty Engineering and Deon Kriek, General Manager of Green Triangle Forests, OneFortyOne, for joining me in inspecting the near complete fire tower a few weeks ago in Mount Gambier. The tower is being constructed in collaboration with the Green Triangle Fire Alliance and OneFortyOne Plantations.

The completion of these works will enhance landscape level fire detection systems and ensure ongoing protection of the Green Triangle's assets. Unlike all the other fire towers that are currently being installed with AI technology onto existing fire towers, the Penola North fire tower is being completely rebuilt due to its age and condition, which was over 100 years old. The new Penola North fire tower will be rebuilt in the same location as the existing one and will provide a strong defence for the forest plantation that is located around it.

The fire towers being upgraded across the Limestone Coast, from Comaum, Penola North, Mount Benson, Mount Burr, Carpenter Rocks and Lucindale South, will offer a strong layer of defence for the forest industry, but it also provides protection for other agricultural groups and the wider South-East community that lives and works in this region. We know that fire doesn't recognise boundaries, and that's why these towers are so important.

The Penola North fire tower will be installed at Tower Road over the next two months and will be operational in time for this year's fire season. All fire towers will be upgraded and fully operational for the start of this year's fire season, and this, interestingly, will be Australia's first fully integrated bushfire detection platform, utilising satellite technology and ultra-high definition 360-degree panoramic cameras aimed at improving early detection of fires. I look forward to being able to continue to update this place on the significant ongoing works being undertaken to protect our forests and our broader regional community.