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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-28 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: I rise to advise the house of the government's arrangements for firefighting aircraft for this year's fire season. The recent hot weather and the season's first total fire bans over the weekend signal a warning for a potentially dry and hazardous fire season. The South Australian community will benefit this fire season by having a high-volume Erickson Air-Crane helicopter based in South Australia. In the past, we have been well served by this resource being available in South Australia when not needed in other states. However, the State government recognises the greater benefits of having an air-crane based in South Australia, particularly with the current seasonal outlook.

The air-crane (which is capable of carrying 7,200 litres of water) will provide a significant boost to the firefighting capabilities of the CFS by bringing the number of aircraft available for deployment in this state to 14. In addition to the Erickson Air-Crane there will be another 13 firefighting and aerial surveillance aircraft, including three Bell helicopters, seven fixed-wing air tractors and three fixed-wing surveillance aircraft.

The Rann Labor government has increased spending on aerial firefighting every year to a record $6.8 million in this year's state budget. This total includes $1.85 million from the federal government's national funding package for aerial firefighting. Over the next few weeks the CFS fleet of firefighting aircraft will begin their service for the fire danger season, covering all the high-risk areas across South Australia, including Lower Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and the Lower South-East. This fire danger season, the Rann government has ensured that there will be more aircraft with increased capacity and improved flexibility of the fleet.

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