Mount Gambier Regional Airport will soon host significant new fire-fighting assets, aimed at improving the protection of over 300,000ha of forest plantations. A new 144kL water tank and dual diesel/electric water pump will be installed to help keep Australia’s Green Triangle as safe as possible.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister, said, “The Green Triangle Region is an important part of Australia’s Forestry and Forest Products industry, with this investment core to protecting the pine and blue gum plantations across South Australia’s Limestone Coast and Western Districts of Victoria.”
District Council of Grant Mayor, Kylie Boston, said, “The Mount Gambier Regional Airport services the Limestone Coast and parts of Western Victoria, as does its infrastructure, which plays a critical role in emergency management, particularly in supporting aerial waterbombing over our region. Notably, the first response to fire is often by air from aircraft stationed at the airport.
“Modernising and increasing water access for aerial firefighting means the region is better equipped to combat bushfires, protecting the forestry plantations and the lives and livelihoods of thousands of forestry workers across the region,” Ms McAllister said.
The new aerial firefighting assets will improve fire authorities’ ability to slow the progress of bushfires and better protect communities from Kingston SE to Warrnambool in Victoria.
South Australian Minister for Emergency Services, Dan Cregan, said, “This upgraded asset will be a critical resource to assist firefighting efforts in the South East, protecting communities and our timber resources.”
More than $415,000 from the Federal Government’s flagship Disaster Ready Fund and District Council of Grant co-funded this equipment.
“Council, alongside the Limestone Coast Zone Emergency Management Committee, identified that bushfires in our region without aerial waterbombing assistance are an extreme risk. This project acts as a key tool for fire mitigation and ensures that aerial waterbombing efforts will be available for many decades to come protecting our communities and industry,” Ms Boston said.
Significant preparatory work to replace the existing 1960s-built aerial waterbombing infrastructure has been completed. The installation of the new tank and pump is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Image: Pauline/stock.adobe.com
