No. 40

ACT emergency services volunteers budget winners

The valuable contribution made to the ACT community by emergency services volunteers has been recognised in the 2007-08 ACT Budget.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Simon Corbell today announced a range of measures aimed specifically at volunteer members of the ACT Rural Fire Service (ACT RFS), ACT State Emergency Service (ACT SES) and ACT Fire Brigade (ACT FB) Community Fire Units.

“The ACT Government and Canberra community acknowledges the commitment that the hundreds and hundreds of ACT emergency service volunteers make to ensure our safety every day of the year,” Mr Corbell said.

“The measures in this Budget further recognise the vital role our volunteers play in emergency management in the ACT.”

The initiatives announced in the Budget include:
•	replacement of a large number of ACT RFS ageing vehicle fleet as part of the ESA’s $6.5 million fire fighting vehicle replacement program. This will include new command vehicles, light units and heavy tankers;
•	10 additional Community Fire Units at a capital cost of $226,000 across Canberra’s most bushfire-vulnerable areas; 
•	driver training for ACT RFS volunteer firefighters to operate heavy bushfire vehicles at a cost of $250,000; 
•	upgrading ACT SES and ACT RFS unit and brigade sheds as part of the additional $1.619 million provided for ESA’s station upgrade and repairs and maintenance allocation in this Budget;
•	$394,000 for training of Remote Area Firefighters; and
•	$250,000 for Incident Control System training.

“Measures such as upgrading ACT SES and RFS sheds will provide our dedicated volunteers with the accommodation and facilities they require and deserve to continue delivering their vital services for the ACT community,” Mr Corbell said.

“The ACT Government wants to ensure Canberrans who are prepared to give up their time for the community are provided with an opportunity to acquire new skills that they can use while helping protect the Territory.”