Blue Mountains firefighters share record $216m RFS funding
22nd October 2009Ministerial media release
Rural Fire Brigades in the Blue Mountains will benefit from more than $5 million in funding this year as volunteer firefighters head into a potentially severe bush fire season.
Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan today announced the 2009/10 regional funding allocations for Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigades around NSW.
Emergency Services Parliamentary Secretary and Blue Mountains MP Phil Koperberg said local brigades would share $5.37 million from the record $216 million Rural Fire Fighting Fund.
"Our fire authorities are well prepared for this bush fire season, which could be one of the worst we have faced for some years," Mr Koperberg said.
"Ensuring our RFS volunteers are well equipped and safe as they work to protect the community will, as always, be our highest priority this summer.
"The Government has allocated almost $395 million to provide more than 3640 bush fire tankers since 1995 and we have boosted RFS aerial firefighting resources by $6 million this summer.
"New national Fire Danger Ratings - including the new categories of severe, extreme and catastrophic - and bush fire warning systems are in place.
"Residents in bush fire prone areas should be familiar with these and take steps now to Prepare. Act. Survive.
"They must take the time to prepare their homes and families and ensure they have a Bush Fire Survival Plan setting out what they will do in the event of a fire."
Mr Koperberg said the $5.37 million in funding would help ensure Mountains brigades had the training, personal safety gear, equipment and support they needed for their vital work.
"Our volunteers provide vital fire and emergency protection for local residents and businesses and the thousands of visitors who are attracted by the rugged natural beauty of the Blue Mountains each year," he said.
"The members of the RFS don't volunteer for praise or accolades but I thank each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication to protecting our community."
Mr Whan said the 2009/10 $216 million Rural Fire Fighting Fund included:
- $31.3 million for more than 200 bush fire 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 bush fire mitigation, including $2 million to help elderly and vulnerable residents reduce their bush fire risk and
- $6 million to boost aerial firefighting resources.
Bush Fire Survival Plans and other information to help residents assess their home's fire risk can be downloaded from the RFS website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
Blue Mountains firefighters share record $216m RFS funding (PDF 47KB)