Northern Victoria Region
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (14:02): (1117) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Can the minister please provide the asset condition report and replacement schedule for all CFA and FRV vehicles in stations within Northern Victoria? On Thursday 29 August an ageing fire truck broke down while crews were responding to a shop fire in Bendigo. The truck’s ladder platform had lifted a firefighter above the shop when the mechanical controls for the platform failed and the firefighter had to scramble to safety. This truck should have been removed from operations four years ago but was instead used to replace an even older truck. The Shepparton aerial pumper has also broken down twice in the past week, and firefighters are concerned that the new pumper platform that was to arrive in Shepparton any day now will be directed to Sunshine, leaving them with an unreliable and inferior truck. Firefighters speak of a fire truck crisis, and reports say almost half of FRV’s fleet is out of date. The state’s ageing truck fleet is putting firefighters and the community at risk, and I call on the minister to report on the condition of all vehicle assets and publicise their replacement schedule.