Mean and sneaky response to fire fighting risk

13/9/02
"And Perth could soon be home to the latest weapon being used to fight the devastating Sydney bushfires. Called Elvis, the $15million water bomber can dump 9,000 litres of water at a time. It's been credited with helping save hundreds of properties.
Prime Minister John Howard says the Federal Government will look at buying up to three bombers with one based in the west, as part of a national fighting fleet."
Channel 7 News, January 2, 2002
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop today condemned the Howard Government for it wholly inadequate response to the bush fire crisis facing Australia.
Dr Gallop said he was bitterly disappointed by an offer of short term Commonwealth funding assistance to meet the cost of leasing three 'Elvis' heli-tankers to cover all States and Territories in the forthcoming fire season.
"Here was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to honour his commitment in the wake of the devastating bush fires in New South Wales early this year. Where national leadership was called for we have received a mean and sneaky response from a junior Minister," he said.
Dr Gallop said Western Australia had made a constructive approach to the Federal Government seeking a national aerial fire fighting strategy and aircraft to back up existing State and Territory fire fighting resources.
"We have pointed out to the Commonwealth that there are more effective options for Western Australian conditions than Elvis heli-tankers."
Officials from the WA Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority had been negotiating for two fixed-wing water-bombers and a medium size helicopter to be based in the State during the peak fire season between December and April.
The broader strategy proposed setting up a national aerial fire fighting response resource similar to those used in Canada and the United States. It would mean fire-fighting aircraft could be strategically located across Australia according to the prevailing fire conditions.
A major benefit of a national aerial fire-fighting strategy is that a limited number of resources can be deployed more effectively around the nation.
For example, the bushfire season generally starts in southern Queensland and New South Wales in spring/early summer and then moves south and west through Victoria, South Australia and then into WA, where the season traditional can extend into late March or early April.
WA has demonstrated the benefits derived from the current aerial fire-fighting fleet consisting of five fixed-wing water bombers based in Perth and Bunbury. These aircraft also can be forward based to areas such as Northam, Narrogin and Albany.
The Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority consider the addition of the medium helicopter and two fixed-wing aircraft would provide greater support for ground crews, especially during wildfires in the Darling Scarp and in the forests and heathlands of the South-West and the south coast.
The addition of the medium-size helicopter in particular would have enormous benefit in the Perth Hills and metropolitan area which are covered by restricted flying zones for the current fixed-wing water bombing fleet.
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority believes that such a helicopter could make a real impact on protecting key infrastructure within the metropolitan area as well as protecting sensitive urban bushlands such as Bold Park and Kings Park.
Dr Gallop said WA was facing an above average fire season this year. This was because of relatively widespread drought conditions and a consequent drop in the level of preventative measures such as planned burns in recent years.
He said the Government would consider the Commonwealth's proposal when it was formally communicated to the State.
The Premier said the junior Federal Minister's gratuitous remarks about land management practices in WA were evidence of his politicking.
"It is a slur on the thousands of volunteer firefighters and the forest management professionals in this State who do an outstanding job," he said.
Premier's office: 9222 9595