newy.com.au – Ten new firefighting vehicles worth more than $4.1 million have been delivered to Rural Fire Service brigades across the Lower Hunter, strengthening their capacity to respond to bushfires, storms, structure fires and road crashes.
The vehicles were formally handed over at the Lower Hunter Fire Control Centre in East Maitland on Wednesday. Greta Rural Fire Brigade received two vehicles, while the remaining eight were allocated to brigades at Bolwarra-Largs, Fingal Bay, Gresford, Lochinvar, Medowie, Seaham, Thornton and Williamtown-Salt Ash.
The new appliances range from bulk-water tankers capable of carrying up to 11,000 litres to frontline bushfire tankers holding about 3,500 litres. The fleet also includes smaller vehicles designed to reach difficult terrain and specialist appliances for structure fires and other emergencies.
They will operate across a large and heavily vegetated region. The Lower Hunter Bush Fire Management Committee area covers more than 557,000 hectares across the Cessnock, Dungog, Maitland and Port Stephens local government areas.
RFS figures show about 62.4 per cent of the region is bushland, with grassland accounting for a further 31 per cent.
Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington thanked the volunteers who would operate the vehicles.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our brigade volunteers who selflessly step up to protect lives and livelihoods; the Minns Labor Government is pleased to be backing them with the resources they need to defend our communities,” Ms Washington said.
RFS Commissioner Trent Curtin said modern, reliable equipment was essential for volunteers working in demanding conditions.
“Our volunteers give their time, skills and experience to support their communities, and it’s important they have the resources they need to carry out that work safely and effectively,” Commissioner Curtin said.
He also urged residents to use the lead-up to the bushfire season to prepare their properties and discuss their bushfire survival plans.
The handover comes as the NSW Government begins a $470 million, 10-year program to modernise management of the RFS fleet. The government also plans to transfer ownership of more than 6,000 firefighting vehicles, known as the “red fleet”, from councils to the RFS from 1 July 2027.
