Thursday, 17 October 2024

Country Fire Authority resources

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (19:08): (1203) My adjournment is to the Minister for Emergency Services and is concerning the allocation of fire tankers to CFA stations in northern Victoria. Ageing tankers are being shunted between towns in a move that has left many brigades in northern Victoria feeling like poor country cousins receiving hand-me-downs.

I was contacted by a gentleman from Beechworth who let me know that the town has received a new tanker. Well, the so-called new tanker is 34 years old. Beechworth also has a pumper which is a mere 20 years old. Residents think this is inadequate for a town that can face extreme fire risk in summer. Beechworth’s new tanker came from Wooragee. In turn the Wooragee CFA received one from Browns Plains, in what one resident described as a cascade of trucks. Locals are wondering if they are getting value for money from the fire services levy when they also have to fundraise for the equipment that goes on the truck. More than $10,000 of brigade equipment has been added using funds raised by the community. I commend the town on this extraordinary effort, but as one resident pointed out, that is a lot of sausages to sell at Bunnings.

The Bendigo fire brigade is facing similar challenges. They received notice that their heavy tanker will be replaced with a smaller medium tanker. The brigade has written to the CFA to point out that other integrated brigades have had their 3.4C heavy tanker upgraded. Instead they have been advised that their tanker is being replaced with an inferior appliance. This transition is to take place in December, the beginning of summer, which is a challenging time for all brigades. The brigade is concerned that the community would be at a major disadvantage if they receive the inferior tanker, which has reduced water and pumping capacity. The Bendigo brigade wish to retain their existing heavy tanker until an equivalent replacement tanker can be provided. If the replacement goes ahead, it will be a big step backwards for the brigade in their important role protecting life and property across the City of Greater Bendigo. As the Weekly Times reported:

Farmers are being slugged twice as much to fund the state’s fire services as last year …

Some bills have increased by up to 130 per cent. One northern Mallee farmer’s family bill went from $384 to $900 on just one of several blocks that they own. The increase to the fire services levy will result in another $186 million in the state government’s coffers. The purpose of the levy is to help fund Victoria’s fire and emergency services, but the money does not appear to be getting to the volunteer brigades on the ground who are protecting our regional communities.

The action I seek is for the minister to outline how the fire services levy funds are allocated to each of the emergency services, to provide an update on the rollout of new heavy tankers and equipment and to give assurances to the Bendigo brigade that their ageing heavy tanker will be retained and upgraded.