Central Coast RFS shares record bush fire funding
22nd October 2009Ministerial media release
Rural Fire Service brigades on the Central Coast will benefit from $6 million in funding this year as 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.
Mr Whan said local brigades in the Gosford and Wyong Rural Fire Districts would share $6.09 million from the record $216 million Rural Fire Fighting Fund.
The funding was welcomed by Labor MPs Marie Andrews (Gosford), Grant McBride (The Entrance) and David Harris (Wyong).
Ms Andrews said the State's fire authorities were well prepared for this bush fire season, which could be one of the worst NSW had faced for some years.
"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," she said.
Mr McBride said the Government had allocated almost $395 million to provide more than 3640 bush fire tankers since 1995 and 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," he said.
"Residents in bush fire prone areas should be familiar with these and take steps now to Prepare. Act. Survive. They must prepare their homes and families and ensure they have a Bush Fire Survival Plan setting out what they will do in a fire."
Mr Harris said the $6.09 million in funding would help ensure Central Coast 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, businesses and rural property holders and the many visitors attracted to the Coast 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."
The 2009/10 $216 million Rural Fire Fighting Fund includes:
- $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
Central Coast RFS shares record bush fire funding (PDF 47KB)