Friday, 17 February 2023
NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has today fired a full broadside at Fire & Rescue NSW for its latest lazy and failed attempt to covertly withdraw services from Bingara and close the Bingara Fire Station, which he declared had been officially blocked.
“When will these pencil pushers and bean counters from Sydney get the message – keep your hands off Bingara Fire Station,” a furious Mr Marshall said today.
“Once again, the bigwigs have tried to close the station and once again they have failed – they are very slow learners.”
Mr Marshall confirmed today with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services that Bingara Fire Station would be “remaining open and servicing the local community.”
“I don’t know what game NSW Fire & Rescue is playing at, but if they want to make savings on their statewide balance sheet, then they can bugger off and look somewhere else,” he said.
“Gwydir Shire Council, the local community and I are in lockstep on this one – we’ll never allow the station to close and services to be withdrawn from the community.
“Bingara may be small but lives out here are just as important as ones in the big city and just as deserving of adequate fire protection.
“I trust now this latest attempt has been stopped dead in its tracks, Fire & Rescue will resume genuine recruitment efforts to fill vacant retained firefighter positions at the station.
“The community will be watching Fire & Rescue’s actions very closely.”