New station and vehicles for Riverina Highlands volunteers
16th October 2009Ministerial media release
Minister for Emergency Steve Whan today officially opened the new Rosewood and Maragle Rural Fire Brigade Stations and handed over two new firefighting appliances.
The Minister handed over the keys to the new Category 7 vehicles, worth over $260,000, to RFS volunteers from the Rosewood and Wolseley Park Brigades.
"Volunteers of Riverina Highlands have been helping their community for decades during bush fires, grass fires, structure fires and car accidents," Mr Whan said.
"These two new stations will provide the volunteers of Rosewood and Maragle with the level of facilities they need to continue their proud tradition of protecting the community.
"The volunteers of the Riverina Highlands are well respected by the communities they serve and they have earned every bit of that admiration through their diligence and hard work," he said.
Mr Whan said that the two new Category 7 tankers will assist the volunteers of Rosewood and Wolseley Park Brigades to more effectively fight fires both in the Riverina Highlands and elsewhere in NSW.
"These two new vehicles will be a significant boost to these brigades' resources.
"Our volunteer firefighters generously give their time to protect their communities during emergencies and the Rees Government is committed to supporting them with the equipment, training and other resources they need for their vital work.
"We owe all our volunteers a great debt of gratitude for their dedication to protecting life and property," he said.
Mr Whan said the 2009/10 Rural Fire Fighting Fund was a record $216 million, with spending to include:
- $31.3 million for more than 200 bushfire tankers
- $16 million for new and upgraded brigade stations and fire control centres and the installation of rain water tanks
- $17 million in maintenance grants to local councils
- More than $17 million for bushfire mitigation, including $2 million to help elderly and vulnerable residents reduce their bushfire risk and
- $6 million to boost aerial firefighting resources.
New station and vehicles for Riverina Highlands volunteers (PDF 42KB)