Mount Gambier-based Liberal MLC Ben Hood pushed the case in parliament last week for a 24 hour Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) in the Blue Lake city.
Mr Hood questioned Emergency Services Minister Emily Bourke in the Legislative Council, citing a business case accessed through a freedom of information request developed by the full time staff at the Mount Gambier MFS Station that has been sent to the MFS chain of command.
“(It) calls to implement a single appliance 24 hours full time staff model for Mount Gambier,” Mr Hood said.
“The business case outlines several key benefits for the local community including the 140% increase in full time coverage ensuring faster response times to emergencies and a projected increase in the percentage of incidents attended within 11 minutes from 76% to 95% aligning Mount Gambier with similar regional centres like Port Pirie.
“A full time staff 24/7 station would save seven minutes per call on average to respond; as the minister would know a house fire can cause complete destruction of the area of one room every four minutes, enhance the ability to support other emergency services including the CFS and SAS, reduce property damage and risk of life through quicker fire suppression and emergency response and a cost saving through a more efficient staffing model with a wage cost of full time staffing estimated at approximately $250,000 per year.”
Mr Hood asked Minister Bourke if she had read the business case, spoken with the full time MFS staff in Mount Gambier regarding the need for a full time 24/7 MFS station and if she will support the cause put forward by the opposition and Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell.
“I will have to seek clarification whether that business case was put forward to the government before I can respond to what is in that business case you are referring to,” Minister Bourke said.
“As I have outlined previously, I am happy to have those conversations. I have reached out to the MFS to find time and have allocated time to go to Mount Gambier to have these conversations.
“I have made that public statement that I would be having those conversations with them.
“I am new to this role and I am trying to get my head around all the different services and brigades and the MFS as well. Absolutely happy to have those conversations.”
Minister Bourke told Mr Hood to look at the cost associated with implementing a full time service in the regional city.
“My understanding is it is not as simple as saying ‘let’s just go to 24/7’,” she said.
“The concerns that were raised yesterday were following comments made on radio heightening fear there was not a 24/7 service available in Mount Gambier which I am advised is not correct.
“There is a 24/7 MFS service available in Mount Gambier as the member would know, there is the career firefighter that is available throughout the day and in the evening is the retained firefighters who are put on to support in the evening.
“My understanding is the Mount Gambier MFS Station should be very proud of what they have been able to achieve so far.
“They are not only under the timeframe but exceed the national time frames that are put forward in responding to an emergency.
“They do an incredible effort, one they should be very proud of, and as I have said – happy to have those conversations – but I do not like the idea of putting fear out there ‘there is not a service available’, when there is one.”
