An additional two aircraft will service the South East as part of a major State Government investment into aerial firefighting capacity.
An additional fixed-wing aircraft and a Black Hawk helicopter will be stationed in the South East, providing a significant boost to water bombing capacity in the region.
State Government Ministers visited the Naracoorte airport to inspect some of the new firefighting resources during last week’s Country Cabinet.
The State Government has contracted SA-owned and operated companies Helifarm and Aerotech to provide this service with the aircraft based at Mount Gambier Airport and servicing the lower South East during the 2023-24 fire season.
This service will work together with the Country Fire Service’s (CFS) strong suite of firefighting resources, as well as forest industry brigades and Department of Environment and Water (DEW) crews.
For the first time in Australia artificial intelligence is also being used to detect and monitor fires in the South East as part of the State Government’s more than $2m upgrade of the region’s fire towers.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub with $1m going towards the implementation of the new technology.
Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said having additional water bombing aircraft and dedicated observational helicopters to support other firefighting appliances will be essential if the worst happens.
“The South East is home to stunning beaches, beautiful coastline and exquisite food and wine, but it’s also prone to bushfires,” he said.
“This strategic stationing of additional aircraft for firefighting purposes will assist communities in the South East by having extra firefighting resources available if a fire breaks out.”
Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven said the Green Triangle plantation forest region was one of the powerhouses of the Australian forest and forest products industry.
“The South Australian portion of the regions contributes more than $860m to South Australia’s gross state product annually, making it one of the state’s most productive sectors,” she said.
“It is therefore essentially that we continue our commitment to not only the region’s forest estate, but more importantly those that live and work in the region.
“As this is a border region we unfortunately know all too well that fire does not recognise boundaries, so this collaborative State Government/industry initiative in utilising this ground-breaking AI fire technology helps us to ensure the best fire management tools are at our disposal.
“This is a system that is not just for the benefit of the Green Triangle Forest region but is a win-win for all other landscape users, primary producers, and local communities.”
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said his community “knows only too well how devastating bushfires can be”.
“Since 2019, there have been three major fires in MacKillop, leading to stock and land losses, and in one instance, the tragic loss of life,” he said.
“Having extra aerial support will go a long way in ensuring those on the ground are given the most accurate information about fire behaviour. Ultimately, this information could save lives and property.
“I am pleased the State Government has recognised the importance of having extra firefighting resources available in the Limestone Coast.”
