‘Not good enough’: State Government must find funds to repair fire siren, MP says
Mayo MP Rebekah Sharkie has thrown her support behind an Adelaide Hills community seeking the State Government’s help to fund repairs to their town’s fire siren.
Adelaide Hills
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Member for Mayo Rebekah Sharkie has taken aim at the State Government for its refusal to fund fire sirens in regional towns.
Speaking in support of Gumeracha locals, who have been forced to crowd fund $8000 for the repair of their town’s early warning system, Ms Sharkie said the government had a responsibility to keep communities safe.
She said she would write to Federal Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and ask him to expand funding allocation for CFS strike teams on the ground.
Under current legislations, funding for emergency services is predominantly allocated by the State government through support of federal recovery grants.
“I believe CFS sirens have a place and a part to play in raising awareness about bushfire preparedness so I think the State Government should provide at least some funding towards this equipment,” she said.
“My community has a CFS siren and every time it sounds on training night I am reminded that I live in a high bushfire risk area and that I need to remain vigilant. That is a good reminder.
“We know from recent history that bushfires can start suddenly without warning so people need to be prepared and they need to act early.”
Earlier this week, The Adelaide Hills News revealed the State Government would no longer support the running of fire sirens in regional towns.
It comes as Gumeracha locals unsuccessfully lobbied Minister for Police and Emergency Services Corey Wingard for a grant to help repair the town’s siren.
In a letter to the community, Mr Wingard said regional towns should rely on technology, including the Alert SA app and the Emergency Alert messaging system, to keep them safe and alert during bushfires.
His response has angered many, including Angela Edwards who has now established a go-fund me page to collect money for the repair of the siren.
Around $3000 have been donated so far, including $700 from the Gumeracha Primary School.
“All we now need is another $5000, so please, Mr Wingard, write the cheque and take us serious,” Ms Edwards said.
“This is our second major disaster in two years and the community has had enough.
“Why is it so hard to give us a siren for our own piece of mind?.”
SA-BEST has also thrown its support behind the Hills community with MLC Frank Pangallo planning to write to Mr Wingard to request he overturn his decision.
Mr Pangallo said he was “beyond belief” the government would not provide the necessary funds for towns ravaged by the bushfires.
“This government’s scrooge mentality is beyond belief,” he said.
“Minister Wingard and his city-based bureaucrats need to get their heads out of the sand and listen to the very people who’ll be affected if a bushfire occurs near their home.
“The Minister’s excuse for refusing to fund repairs to the siren is that the government has invested in a number of alert mechanisms including the Alert SA app and the Emergency Alert messaging system.
“They are not fool proof. What happens if there is a power blackout – like there was in 2016 – or someone in the line of a bushfire is in a telecommunications black spot or doesn’t have their phone with them at the time?”