The NSW Government is making a major investment to better prepare communities and respond to bush fires, by committing $315.2 million over the next four years to complete the recommendations of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry in the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
$191 million has been allocated to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to help keep NSW communities safe through vital hazard reduction works, maintenance of strategic fire trails, and the procurement of the new fleet.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the devastating Black Summer of 2019-20 had a lasting impact on communities right across the State, and in our region.
“We never want to experience another Black Summer fire season, but it’s important that our emergency services are as well-resourced and ready as possible,” Mr Saunders said.
“We are acting on all 76 recommendations of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, and by beefing up our emergency services like the RFS, we are ensuring our region is better prepared for the future challenges we will inevitably face.
“The NSW Government has previously committed $516.4 million to addressing recommendations from the Bushfire Inquiry, and this investment takes our spend to over $830 million in bush fire-proofing our State.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said this important funding will also help protect firefighters when they respond to future emergency events.
“We will continue to act on the learning of the 2019-20 Black Summer fire season. The safety of our firefighters who put themselves on the line to protect families, homes, businesses and the environment, is paramount,” Ms Cooke said.
The funding includes:
- $105.6 million to deliver new trucks and retrofit old trucks;
- $75.4 million to significantly boost the number of mitigation crews;
- $10 million to enhance strategic fire trails.