The State Government is to spend $268.2M over the next four years on bushfire mitigation measures as it implements all 76 recommendations of the independent NSW Bushfire Inquiry.
The inquiry was commissioned by Premier Gladys Berejiklian following the bushfires of 2019-2020 which devastated much of the state, including areas of the Central Coast.
The measures to be introduced will include firefighting drones, aerial firefighting, enhanced strategic fire trails and improvements to local emergency infrastructure and equipment.
The funding package was announced on June 18 by Treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, and firefighting officials.
The announcement takes the total amount committed by the Government in response to the Bushfire Inquiry, in partnership with the Commonwealth, to more than $460M.
Perrottet said the funding will help rollout critical projects that will assist firefighters to protect communities right across the State.
“This commitment will bolster the future of our fire agencies and preparedness of communities, many of whom have personally witnessed the devastating effects of fire,” he said.
“Highlights of the package include further funding for new and refurbished fire trucks, operationalising two black hawk helicopters to replace existing NSW RFS helicopters, and implementing the new National Fire Danger Ratings System.”
Elliott said the NSW Government will continue to act on things learned through the Black Summer of bushfires.
“This second tranche of funding builds on our initial $192.2M commitment which has already made a difference to our state’s preparedness for future disasters, and brings our total response to almost half a billion dollars,” Elliott said.
“Whether it’s the continued funding for fleet upgrades, protective clothing, maintenance of our roads and strategic fire trails or indeed funding for drones and bushfire research, this second package puts our frontline firefighters and the safety of our communities first.”
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Commissioner, Rob Rogers, said fire agencies at all levels were working hard towards implementing the recommendations from the Inquiry.
“This commitment will assist by increasing mitigation crews on the ground, getting aviation assets in the sky, and most importantly, providing safer trucks for our firefighters,” he said.
Fire and Rescue NSW Acting Commissioner, Jim Hamilton, said the additional funding would go a long away in ensuring that emergency services are more prepared for the future.
“The funding will deliver state of the art equipment, systems and appliances so that our firefighters can better protect the NSW community in years to come,” he said.
Commissioner of Resilience NSW, Shane Fitzsimmons, said resourcing local communities was paramount for an effective response.
“We know local communities and their efforts are the frontline of response, but they are also key to preparedness for the disasters that will most likely impact them,” he said.
The $268.2M funding package includes: $50.9M to support firefighting tanker replacement and safety retrofits for frontline emergency workers; $37.6M for the continued funding of additional mitigation crews in the NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to deliver greater hazard reduction; $34.4M to accelerate the state wide delivery of strategic fire trails; $22.7M for a personal protective clothing replacement program for FRNSW; $19.9M to upgrade the FRNSW dispatch systems; $17.2M to operationalise two black hawk helicopters to replace existing NSW RFS helicopters; $10.6M to assist with the implementation of the new National Fire Danger Rating System; $6.7M to enhance firefighter safety through fire ground tracking, training and accreditation of heavy plant machinery operators; and, $5.2M for additional drones for firefighting operations.
Source:
Media release, Jun 19
NSW Government