FORMER city councillor Paul Jenner has sought a commitment from Mount Gambier’s political candidates to upgrade critical emergency services equipment as a matter of urgency.
Mr Jenner urged Mount Gambier’s eight candidates to upgrade the 26-year-old Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) fire appliance in order to strengthen the brigade’s emergency response capabilities and increase staffing to a 24-hour roster.
Despite the recent expansion of firefighting operations at the Mount Gambier station, Mr Jenner said it was essential the MFS transitioned to a 24-hour model to bolster rapid response capabilities.
“It is unbelievable people in Mount Gambier have to wait between 10 to 13 minutes for an appliance to rock up and start putting out your fire when in Adelaide it shoots out straight away,” he said.
“Port Pirie has a 24/7 service and over the border Portland operates 24/7 as well and here in Mount Gambier we have been forgotten.
“Fires do not decide they are going to start when the station is staffed.
“We are the second biggest city in South Australia and we deserve the same response times they get in Adelaide.”
In a statement, an MFS spokesperson assured the community the station was appropriately staffed and resourced with trained personnel and fit-for-purpose appliances and equipment.
“The Mount Gambier MFS station staffing is currently being reconfigured to accommodate a 12-hour seven days per week shift as per the recent enterprise agreement,” the statement said.
“This is currently in the process of being implemented with applications from MFS retained personnel recently closing.
“It is anticipated these positions will be filled from recruit squads starting in the next 12 months.”
Independent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell said while he worked tirelessly to secure the second shift roster for the Mount Gambier brigade, it was essential for the station to progress to permanent, round the clock staffing.
“The State Government uses the excuse they need to invest in a capital upgrade to the existing building, to provide sleeping accommodation as well as budget for additional staff and currently this is not their priority,” he said.
“Whilst the government seems enthusiastic to continually expand our prison, they have so far avoided the commitment to upgrade our MFS services.
“This upgrade is the next step in the progression of Mount Gambier’s MFS and will lead to increased employment and quicker response times for Mount Gambier residents.”
Mr Bell said funding for the MFS had not kept up with the city’s growth.
“Due to the increased footprint, the MFS requires a 4000 litre four-wheel drive rural pumper truck to replace the 1000 litre rural pumper they currently operate,” he said.
Liberal candidate for Mount Gambier Craig Marsh said the city was under-serviced by the MFS compared to other regional cities, but did not commit to funding the project.
Australian Conservatives MLC Robert Brokenshire said the party would support a review to be tabled in parliament, saying underfunding was prevalent across all sectors of the emergency sectors.
“There are a lot of CFS and SES groups that are underfunded on their budgets so we would also have to look at the merit of the proposal, which does not look to have been properly costed and assessed,” he said.
SA-Best candidate Kate Amoroso said if there was a clear case for the station to be staffed 24/7 and for infrastructure and appliances to be upgraded, “then it needs to happen”.
Independent Richard Sage backed a full proposal with costings, saying a transparent emergency services levy was required to assist with funding.
“The shifting of appliances around the state may need to be looked at to ensure the equipment is in peak condition with reductions in age to be the end goal,” he said.
