Providing Mount Gambier with a Metropolitan Fire Service that operates 24/7 and with a working first response fire unit will be discussed at City Council’s monthly meeting today.

Councillor Paul Jenner will bring attention to his concerns around second hand replacement vehicles, aged and outdated equipment, and access to courses and training.

According to Cr Jenner, the vehicles that have been sent to Mount Gambier over the last three years are inadequate and a huge cause for concern.

“Mount Gambier deserves a decent first response fire appliance that works, as we are five hours away from Adelaide,” he said.

“Mount Gambier received a second-hand appliance as its first response unit and the pump went soon after the station received it.

“It has been in Adelaide getting repaired for seven-and-a-half months.

“The same thing happened with another replacement unit that was temporary, which failed, and then was written off.”

In addition, it is the view of Cr Jenner the Mount Gambier MFS needs to have a station operating 24/7.

“The citizens of Mount Gambier deserve better in terms of service and vehicles,” he said.

“Other centres such as Mount Barker and Port Pirie have been provided additional resources and vehicles.

“While each community is different, Mount Gambier has a range of large businesses and factories and a large population, which is five hours from Adelaide and therefore difficult to support from other centres.

“The ambulance station is 24/7, as it should be, with another shift allocated for Mount Gambier.

“The MFS deserves the same.”

Cr Jenner will table a motion with notice requesting a meeting with Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services Minister Joe Szakacs, MFS chief executive Michael Morgan, Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell, Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven, and SAFECOM chief executive Julia Waddington-Powell.

Cr Jenner has also asked consideration for United Fire Fighters Union of South Australia secretary Maxine Adlam to be in attendance.

He is seeking support for discussion about the replacement appliance that was delivered as the new second hand first response unit, and consideration that Mount Gambier station operate 24/7.

Cr Jenner’s motion also includes seeking courses and training access for the MFS staff in Mount Gambier “equal to that provided to MFS teams in Adelaide”, and discussion about aged and outdated gym equipment.

Cr Jenner also intends on bringing the topic to the attention of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Legislative Council member Ben Hood.