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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-03-05 Daily Xml
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COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE, RIVERLAND

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:02): My question is directed to the Minister for Emergency Services. What assistance will the government provide to Riverland CFS brigades to assess the level of additional fire risk resulting from the significant areas of orchards, vineyards and wetlands that have dried off due to ongoing irrigation restrictions?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:03): Because of the climatic changes all of Australia, including this state, is experiencing, we are very much aware that we have an extremely dry soil index in the state—in the past three years it is probably the highest it has ever been.

I guess I responded to this question in part yesterday by saying how much we are prepared for such an eventuality, should fires go through the areas the honourable member has mentioned. As I said then, measures range from ensuring that we respond with extra crews and extra water tanks (which are in place) to doubling our aerial support. Again, and in relation to community education, this government has poured millions of dollars into ensuring that our community is much better prepared and that people themselves take responsibility for their safety and the safety of their property and assist our valuable CFS volunteers, who undertake that tremendous role on behalf of everyone.

Again, as I said yesterday, besides the aerial support and community education, CFS personnel themselves are better trained and better resourced in relation to what is happening right now in terms of our weather. We have also extended the contracts relating to aerial firefighting capacity—and we actually saw yesterday some aircraft in operation and the necessity for a CFS crew to be engaged, because the weather is still very hot for this time of the year.

Those are all the things I placed on record yesterday, and do so again today, outlining what we have done to ensure that not only is the community very much engaged in being ready themselves but also that the CFS has the level of support it needs.

I also mentioned yesterday the mutual aid agreements between all three services now. At any time that the CFS is called, the retained firefighters or the MFS from the city are there to provide support for the assets of regional towns, or the towns themselves. The role of the SES is incredibly valuable. It undertakes all the work required for the aerial support to be put in place. It undertakes all the logistical support that is required. It put in a tremendous effort on Kangaroo Island, where it provided all of that support.

We also have in place, of course, as I mentioned yesterday, mutual agreement or mutual cooperation. At the height of the bushfire season it is very common for the chief officers of all the services between all of the states to have teleconferences and seek information. It is a time when people request assistance from other states. Again, as I mentioned yesterday, we provided support to Western Australia and, of course, we saw a huge interstate deployment come to Kangaroo Island when we needed it. I really am not sure what else I can add. Yes; there have been climatic changes and, yes; we are across all the issues and realise the importance of the preparedness that is required.

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