Wednesday, 22 February 2023

 Rikkie TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:46): (40) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. I would like to ask whether there has been consideration of the requirement for a fuel pod in the township of Dartmouth. Dartmouth is a one-road-in, one-road-out community in the northern region. During peak tourism season there is an estimated 600 cars per day heading into Dartmouth. With a permanent population of 120 residents and substantial government infrastructure, the protection of this area in the event of an emergency is of vital importance. Furthermore, the nearest township able to support a sustained defence against such an emergency is Eskdale. At 30 kilometres away and acknowledging the refuel procedures required for an emergency services fleet, it is deemed by the local responding units own standards that a 1-hour-plus turnaround is woefully inadequate, especially considering the current fuel loading.