Page 251 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
when the ACT’s only Bronto went to Sydney for maintenance on 5 January a replacement appliance did not arrive until 11 days later. ACT Fire & Rescue chief, Mark Brown, is quoted as saying that this work was pre-planned and arrangements were made for a loan Bronto from the Melbourne fire brigade. Minister, if these works were pre-planned why did it take 11 days to get the replacement appliance?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mrs Jones for her question. The Bronto has been a difficult piece of machinery to work with. It has certainly had some failings and we are trying our best to maintain it as we go into the future to provide a new aerial appliance which of course is in the order and construction stream. But it has come up with a number of problems.
In the meantime we have tried as best as possible to source aerial appliances from either Melbourne or New South Wales to ensure that we can support our firefighters in doing their fantastic job in the ACT should the machine not be roadworthy or break down. We have seen it again break down recently. As much as possible we try to get another appliance in place or we have extra crews to do that sort of work.
MRS JONES: Minister, is the Bronto, at this moment, available for immediate response? If not, why is that, and what replacement appliance has been provided for this useless piece of kit?
MR GENTLEMAN: From the brief to me today, it has broken down again. There is a small issue with an electrical fault that is being worked on as we speak. As Mrs Jones has outlined, it is an older machine. We are trying for a replacement as soon as we can. Indeed we may need to look for another one, in order to have a secondary appliance.
MR WALL: Minister, on what date will a second aerial pumper be delivered and operational in the ACT, and will that then ensure that we have two operational aerial appliances in the territory?
MR GENTLEMAN: On most occasions we do have replacement vehicles. There is a vehicle to replace the Bronto when it has maintenance. When it has unfortunate breakdowns like we have seen we order a vehicle from either Victoria or New South Wales as soon as we can.
The new appliance has a two-year construction period. That has been well outlined in this place and in our budget estimates hearings. It is a long gestation to order the vehicle, have it built and on the road. In this situation we are looking to see whether we can look at another one in the not-too-distant future.
Environment—healthy waterways project
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. Minister, what steps is the government taking to help make Canberra’s waterways better?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Orr for the question. I will pose this to the Assembly: as you drink your glass of water today, or have a cup of tea, think about
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video