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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-05-14 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

CHERRYVILLE FIRE

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:26): I rise today to bring a matter to the attention of the house in respect of the Cherryville fire. Members would have read in the general media late last week (Thursday) that a fire started on a private property essentially north-east of Cherryville in the Adelaide Hills; it was a private property owner undertaking a legal burn. When it was clear that the management of the fire required some assistance, he called the local CFS, and units were deployed for that purpose.

Subsequently, the matter developed into really quite a major incident for the purposes of management of the bushfire, and several hundred people were brought in to assist over the next few days. During the event, members would also be aware that a house property (one dwelling) and also, I think, two sheds were lost in property damage as a result of the fire. It is fair to say that a significant area of acreage was lost during the fire, in the natural infrastructure. Who knows yet what the impost has been on the local fauna and even other livestock but, thankfully, it appears that no lives were lost, either volunteers or those persons who were resident in the region.

First, I acknowledge the hard work and effort of the members of the Country Fire Service, in addition to those, generally speaking, in allied services—members of the South Australian Police Department, members of the State Emergency Service, members of the Salvation Army and community organisations, all of which come together to assist on these occasions. I also acknowledge that, whilst this matter is out of the newspapers and our television screens in our homes, the reality is that, with issues surrounding fires of this nature, there will be a considerable period of repair, mop-up, clean-up and management.

Trees that are damaged will need to be cut down and disposed of, there needs to be repair to roads—all things that can take some weeks—and the local community and other emergency services will bear the load. On behalf of South Australians, I say thank you in advance for what you are still yet to do. I am particularly pleased to note that the East Torrens headquarters of the CFS, in my electorate in Uraidla, provided us the hub of activity, along with the management of public meetings in the neighbouring Uraidla Institute. The area damaged directly sits in my neighbouring member's seat, the member for Morialta. On a number of occasions during the three days of intense activity we met at public meetings and the like. I know that he has offered and provided enormous support not just to the Country Fire Service volunteers who work in his own office but also in the broader community in his electorate.

There is just one matter I bring to the attention of the house. By Friday morning, having received a number of reports from different people on the ground—some of whom I know have had experience working with the CFS and others who support volunteer services in the community (ambulances and the like)—I made an inquiry at the regional office of the CFS in relation to the progress of the management of the fire only to be informed that I was not be given any information even though I was the local member, covering an area of risk, without that request and information coming through the minister's office.

I did promptly ring the minister's office, because the information I had been receiving over the last couple of days had not come through the Mount Barker office. Having hit this hurdle, I contacted the minister's office, and, to his staff member's credit, there was immediate attention given to the inquiry that I had made, and that was provided. I thank him for that, and I bring an important issue to the house; that is, when an urgent issue happens in someone's electorate we must have access to that information. I will work with members to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Time expired.

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