A new Cat 1 Tanker officially makes its way to Pilliga, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, left, Moree Plains Shire Mayor Katrina Humphries, Pilliga RFS Captain Peter Carter, Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott and NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers handing over the keys.
Monday, 31 May 2021
THREE brand new firefighting tankers, totaling a value of $1.13 million, are ready to respond to emergencies in the Boggabilla, Upper Horton and Pilliga areas, with the local NSW Rural Fire Service Brigades taking delivery of their new Category 1 vehicles at a ceremony in Moree last week.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was on hand, along with Emergency Services Minister David Elliott, to hand over the keys to the new vehicles.
Mr Marshall said the arrival of the state-of-the-art tankers would allow the brigades to respond more quickly and safely to all emergencies in the farming areas they protected.
“These new trucks are state-of-the-art priceless tools for the brigades, providing the latest and best equipment to keep our Rural Fire Service volunteers safe on the fire ground while they do their job,” Mr Marshall said.
“Our amazing volunteers deserve the very best in equipment and that’s just what they’ve got now. I’m delighted the State Government has made such a large investment in our region’s Rural Fire Service.
“Whether it’s responding to grass fires on the Queensland border or in the Horton Valley or major bushfires in the Pilliga State Forrest, these brigades are now equipped with vehicles with the very best firefighting technology.
“For Upper Horton Captain Lindsay Hagan and his 17-man brigade, this new Cat 1 will make a huge difference to their firefighting capability, as it replaces a unit which is 23 years old.
“For Boggabilla’s well respected 20-man brigade, the new vehicle will assist greatly in its ability to respond to motor vehicle accidents on the busy Newell Highway and structure fires in and around the village.
“Boggabilla is only a small community but Captain Larri Hippi has done an outstanding job building the brigade’s ranks and I hope this new piece of equipment might make their work much easier.
“Each of these brigades does a mighty job on behalf of their community and I will continue to ensure they have the best equipment available to continue doing their job supporting and protecting locals.”
The Pilliga brigade’s new tanker replaces an Isuzu FY which was stolen and written-off, leaving the community exposed in the event of a fire. Captain Peter Carter has done an outstanding job managing what assets were available for his crew while awaiting the new Cat 1.