Annastacia Palaszczuk watches Bundaberg-based LAT in action | Video

The Conair Q400AT Large Air Tanker has returned to Bundaberg as part of the state’s arsenal for the bushfire season. Watch it in action.

The bushfire season is upon the Bundaberg region, and the state’s firefighting arsenal is ready to go with the return of the Large Aerial Tanker.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was in Bundaberg on Tuesday as part of the government’s community cabinet in Hervey Bay.

The LAT first flew into its Bundaberg base at the airport in 2020, and has made its return this year in time to be deployed to bushfire battles across the state.

The aircraft can be filled with 10,000 litres of water in eight minutes and can fly to as far north as Proserpine in less than an hour.

The Conair Q400AT will be based in Bundaberg ready to help fight bushfires this fire season.

The Premier said the LAT would be in Bundaberg for the next three months before heading to Victoria.

“We’ve got an increased fire danger over the next few days because of the dry and windy conditions,” she said.

“To have a LAT in Queensland, based in Bundaberg, to address any issues in regional Queensland is excellent.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the plane’s two Canadian pilots had done their two weeks of quarantine.

Police, Corrective Services and Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said having the LAT would allow firefighters to act quickly to a bushfire threat.

“We’ve got an arrangement with Victoria to make sure this aircraft stays in Australia year round, it’ll be here in Queensland for the peak of our bushfire season and then go down to Victoria for their peak bushfire season,” he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk watched a demonstration of the LAT in action with Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey and Bundaberg MP Tom Smith.

QFES commissioner Greg Leach described the LAT as the “jewel in the crown” of Queensland’s aerial firefighting fleet.

“The aircraft will spend Queensland’s bushfire season in Bundaberg, then will move to Victoria after a changeover period,” he said.

“We’ve written into the contract a changeover period so that should Queensland’s bushfire season extend it’s normal time frame, the aircraft will be available to us.”

The LAT can fill up with 10,000 litres of water in just eight minutes.

Mr Leach said it was now likely too late for people to clear their properties using fire, with dry and windy conditions predicted over the next few days.

“We’ve moved into bushfire season now, (Monday) we experienced 20 fires across Queensland, so if you’re looking to clear your property using fire it’s probably now too late,” he said.

“QFES and our rural fire services are very well prepared for the bushfire season but we also need the help of our community, so I ask everyone to be vigilant.”

Also on the agenda in the Premier’s press conference was her daily Covid-19 update.

Queensland recorded no new locally acquired cases of Covid overnight, with one new case detected in hotel quarantine.

Originally published as Annastacia Palaszczuk watches Bundaberg-based LAT in action | Video