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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 624 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 March 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

(1) I refer to the Minister's media statement of 11 March 2022 entitled "World-class firefighting vehicles give Esperance brigades a new edge", and I ask will the Minister please provide the following with respect to each of the seven vehicles:
(a) the type of each vehicle;
(b) the cost of each vehicle;
(c) the recipient brigade, group or unit of each vehicle;
(d) on what date was each vehicle first located in the Esperance region;
(e) on what date was the Minister's hand over event; and
(f) on what date was each vehicle available to the relevant brigade, group or unit for use or deployment?
(2) With respect to the State Government's response to the coronial inquest into the 2015 Esperance bushfires which is mentioned in the statement, will the Minister please provide an update on the status of the Government's response to each of the inquest findings?

Answered on 10 May 2022

(1)(a) to (f) – Please refer to below table:

(A)

Vehicle type

(B)

Cost per vehicle

(C) BGU

 

(D) Date vehicle first located in Esperance region

(E) Minister's hand over event date

(F) on what date was each vehicle available for use or deployment

4 x Light Tankers

$270,000

The 4 Light Tankers have not been allocated to specific brigades.  They are a Shire-wide appliance that can be used by any BGU based on risk and operational incident requirements. Initial disbursement is Quarry Road, Scadden, Condingup and Coomalibidgup VBFBs.

21 Feb 22

11 Mar 22

21 February 2022

 

 

1 x 4.4 Broadacre Tanker - Dual Cab Tatra

$620,000

Mt. Beaumont VBFB

21 Feb 22

11 Mar 22

01 March 2022

Driver Operator Firefighting Appliance Assessments.

1 x 4.4 Broadacre Tanker - Single Cab Tatra

$620,000

Pink Lake VBFB

21 Feb 22

11 Mar 22

02 March 2022

Driver Operator Firefighting Appliance Assessments.

1 x General Rescue Utility – Rural/Remote

$132,000

Esperance SES

6 Dec 21

11 Mar 22

06 December 2021.

 

(2) Please refer to table below

Recommendation

Govt. Response

Current status

1

Supported in principle

DFES has developed and implemented the following actions:

·      Natural Hazards District Officer and Community Emergency Services Manager to work from the Esperance District Office. 

·      DFES is currently reviewing its operational service delivery model which will determine resourcing and staffing to high-risk locations across the State.

2

Not supported

Not applicable

3

Supported

DFES has developed and implemented the following actions:

·      Change of controlling agency form developed in 2020.

·      Section 13 forms updated in 2020/21.

·      Operational Circular 107/2020 - inform all staff of changes.

4

Supported

The current Government has given a higher drafting priority to the Exposure Draft Bill for the Consolidated Emergency Services Act.

5

Supported in principle

DFES in consultation with the Esperance Shire and its Chief Bush Fire Control Officer (CBFCO) has delivered an additional four (4) x Light Tankers to the district. 

6

Not supported

Not applicable

7

Supported

The work outlined in recommendation 7 is considered business-as-usual for the DFES Bushfire Risk Management Branch (BRMB).

8

Supported

Please refer to the recommendation owners, Department of Planning Lands and Heritage (DPLH) and Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

9

Supported in principle

Please refer to the recommendation owners, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).

10

Supported in principle

The 2021/22 WA Grain Harvest Strategy was developed and DBCA and DFES will continue to undertake a risk to capability assessment that will assist in identifying the appropriate level of aerial suppression resource allocation to for annual harvest periods.

11

Supported

The Shire of Esperance better understands and exercises its powers to extend the Restricted and Prohibited burning periods according to risk throughout each southern bushfire season.  DFES continues to provide forecast risk assessments and data that informs the Shire’s decisions each season.

12

Supported

The following actions have been developed and implemented:

·         A DFES funded repeater tower for Peak Charles in 2020.

·         A site search identified preferred sites for repeater in Frank Hahn National Park based on best operational outcome

·         Additional sites to be sought.