Tuesday, 31 October 2023

 Nicole WERNER (Warrandyte) (19:19): (409) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place. The action I seek from the minister is that she upgrades the out-of-date firefighting appliances at Warrandyte CFA. This issue is very close to my heart as it will directly impact the safety and wellbeing of my community in Warrandyte as we come into a brutal fire season. My electorate boasts an amazing group of CFA volunteers. To name just a few: group captain Shane Murphy, captain Ben Cash in Chirnside Park, captain Trent Burris in North Warrandyte and, at the CFA in question, captain Will Hodgson in Warrandyte. Warrandyte CFA’s current fleet of pumps, specifically the type III medium Isuzu FTR 900 with a seven-speed manual turbo, has served them well over the years. These vehicles were the best option back in 2004. However, times have changed and technology has evolved. Modern Scania-based appliances like the Scania P 340 have become available. They have been proven to excel in Warrandyte’s challenging terrain, with the ability to maintain high speeds and navigate the hills and gullies more efficiently. The Scania pumper has ample horsepower to ensure it can keep pace with the demands of our area. Warrandyte CFA has conducted rigorous trial drives through a cross-section of the response area comparing our current Isuzu FTR 900 with the Scania P 340. While the equipment was amazing two decades ago, the time for an upgrade has more than arrived.

This is an issue of safety. Newer CFA pumpers come equipped with a breathing apparatus in the rear seats similar to Fire Rescue Victoria appliances. This feature enables their crews to step out of the vehicle with breathing apparatus on their backs ready to tackle the situation at hand. It reduces response time and increases efficiency, which is crucial when every second counts in a bushfire. Warrandyte CFA and I are requesting an upgrade to our pumpers fleet, specifically to vehicles based on the Scania cab chassis. This upgrade will not only improve our brigade’s performance and response times but also enhance the safety of our volunteers and the efficiency of our operations. Our shared goal is to serve and protect the community to the best of our abilities. We have witnessed firsthand how these improvements can impact our performance on the ground and make a tangible difference in emergency situations. Together we can make our community even safer and better prepared for the bushfire season.