’We’ve had enough’: call for emergency siren to return to Gumeracha
Residents in the Adelaide Hills town are rallying for the old siren to be fixed and reinstated – and have lashed out at the State Government for failing to listen to their plea.
Adelaide Hills
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An Adelaide Hills town has launched an attack on the State Government over its refusal to fund repairs of a broken fire siren.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard has rejected calls to fund the $8000 replacement of the Gumeracha early emergency warning system, despite the town being ravaged by the December 20 Cudlee Creek fires.
One person was killed and more than 85 homes were razed in the bushfire which tore through more than 23,000ha of the Adelaide Hills.
Angela Ewards, who has been the driving force behind attempts to secure funding, said the response highlighted the disconnect between government officials and country towns.
“Our message to the government is that they need to listen to the community,’ she said.
“Your reception and Wi-Fi may work in your office, Mr Wingard, but it does not always work in Gumeracha.
“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?”.
In a letter to the Gumeracha community, Mr Wingard cited technological advances as the reason the government would not support the siren.
Residents, however, disagree and have now launched a go-fund me page to get the siren back up and running.
Close to $3000 have already been raised through the support of community stakeholders, including Gumeracha Primary School, which donated $700.
“Even the local schools has come on board. If that doesn’t highlight how important this is to the community, what is?,” Ms Edwards said.
“All we now need is $5000, so please, Mr Wingard, write the cheque and take us serious. Start listening to the people.”
In a statement to The Adelaide Hills News, Mr Wingard said future funding for fire sirens in SA towns was unlikely.
“The State Government has invested heavily in a number of alert mechanisms including the Alert SA app and the Emergency Alert messaging system,” he said.
“On top of that authorities conduct door knocks and there’s also the CFS website, social media and local radio.
“Sirens have limitations in terms of audibility and coverage and the possibility of members in the community incorrectly interpreting their meaning.
“If towns choose to continue with the use of sirens that’s up to them, but it won’t be considered by the State Government.”
A disappointing decision according to current captain of Gumeracha CFS Hans Liedig.
He said the community had his full support in their fight for funding.
“If it’s important to the community, it’s important to me,” he said.
Gumeracha local Amy Jones said she was backing the funding call for her mother.
“My mum works the night shift at the local hospital and during the day she has her phone off, so she can sleep,” she said.
“We can hear the bell from our house if it were to go. Whereas, if notifications were to only come through via her phone, she wouldn’t even know there is a fire.
“We can’t just expect people to rely on technology, especially in fire-prone towns. What if technology fails?”