With the memory of last Summer’s horrific bushfires still fresh in the minds of South Australian’s the State Government has vowed to better equip firefighters ahead of the upcoming season.
Premier Steven Marshall reinforced the immeasurable impact of the loss of life, property, livestock, and wildlife in South Australia and the importance of preparing the state in order to quash the event of a repeat this summer.
The State Government has promised $20 million to carry out strategies outlined by an independent review conducted in response to the 2019/20 bushfire season. The money will be used to provide 25 new trucks and improve communication technology boosting the state’s defence ahead of the looming dry season.
The independent review that calls for these measures was conducted by Mick Keelty who is a former Australian Federal Police Commissioner. His report provided the Government with 15 recommendations on the improvement of South Australia’s fire fighting capacity and has given a solid plan to work forward on.
Mr Keelty’s review gathered information on the fires that devastated Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and the South East. With three main questions asked ‘what worked?’; ‘what did not work?’ and ‘what can be fixed before the next bushfire season?’
A supporter of Keelty’s review, Minister for Emergency Services Corey Wingard concurs that the implementation of better equipment and technology will have a substantial impact in saving lives in forthcoming fire seasons.
Mark Jones, Country Fire Service chief officer has said that the Government’s $20 million needs to support a “system which will cover the whole of the state.” Mr Jones reinforces the need for practical measures to come from this funding as they will be the most beneficial in assisting emergency services and communities.
“It’s more important that we get it right, that we identify a good system,” he said, “One of the challenges we have with South Australia’s geography is that it needs a number of systems to act effectively.”
Mr Jones also commented on the lack of action implemented from inquiries into previous South Australian bushfires. He said that many recommendations were considered urgent yet had not been implemented before “possibly due to funding or other reasons.”
Opposition emergency services spokesperson Lee Odenwalder agrees with Jones’ revelation stating that prior reports have not been acted upon and had not been shared with relevant authorities. First responders such as SAFECOM (South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission) are reaching out to gain access to reports so they can better prepare members about its recommendations and facts.
With $20 million promised to increase South Australia’s fire strategy in progress, the state prepares itself for next season expected to arrive in early November.
