Firefighter ban casts shadow over Sydney metro line opening date

NSW’s powerful firefighters’ union has slapped a ban on members taking part in critical safety drills and other exercises on Sydney’s $21.6 billion metro rail line, casting a pall over its planned opening on August 4.

With the rail project at a critical phase of testing, the indefinite ban applies to all activities involving Sydney Metro, including firefighters taking part in evacuation drills of new driverless trains, as well as other exercises necessary before the line opens.

The ban comes amid an escalating pay dispute between the Minns government and the state’s firefighters, which resulted in hundreds rallying outside NSW parliament on Thursday.

The latest action casts a shadow over the targeted opening date of the main section of the mostly underground rail line between Chatswood and Sydenham to passengers on August 4, a day after Premier Chris Minns is due to cut the ribbon on the mega project.

The Fire Brigade Employees Union said in a memo that Sydney Metro was squeezing its members by failing to permanently fund firefighting resources for the new line that were equivalent to a specialist team for the Sydney Trains’ underground rail network.

The union’s state secretary Leighton Drury said there remained an “unacceptable community risk” on Sydney Metro rail lines if an arrangement for an equivalent capability to the specialist rail, fire and emergency unit, which is housed near Central Station, was not extended to the new privately operated railways.

“It is imperative that this risk is addressed prior to the commencing of revenue services,” he said in the memo.

The ban on members taking part in all activities relating to the Sydney Metro rail network includes emergency drills and pre-incident plans.

Sydney Metro said in a statement that it was continuing to work towards the targeted opening date of August 4, which was subject to the operator successfully completing trial running exercises, system performance tests and obtaining final regulatory approvals.

“The final confirmation of the opening date will be given in coming weeks after the operator successfully completes the remaining trial running exercises,” it said.

The agency said Metro Trains Sydney, the private operator of the line, had recently entered into an agreement with Sydney Trains for its rail, fire and emergency unit to provide support in the event of an incident in a metro tunnel, and it was already in effect.

However, a union spokesperson said it was concerned that the contract was for only 12 months, and provided no assurances of permanent funding for the key firefighting capability.

Fire and Rescue NSW, a government agency, said it provided expert advice during an initial consultation process over an emergency management plan. As a result, the metro line’s operator had entered into the agreement with Sydney Trains for its specialist rail and fire unit to provide support in an emergency, it said.

Fire and Rescue NSW workers protest outside state parliament on Thursday.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

A government spokesperson said both it and Sydney Metro would keep on working with the national regulator on the certification of the new metro line.

The firefighters’ union, which has 6000 members across the state, is at loggerheads with the government over a new pay deal after the previous award expired in February.

The government’s offer of a 10.5 per cent wage increase over three years falls well short of the union’s demands for a 20 per cent rise over the same period.

The indefinite ban on Sydney Metro activities meant more than a dozen firefighters were not expected to attend a major exercise involving a train evacuation at the new Martin Place station on Friday.

A drill to test the evacuation of a train in the event of a fire is also scheduled for next Friday.

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