Negations conclude - Win & Losses

Post date: 24-Jan-2013 00:49:09

After a marathon negation session over Friday, Saturday, Sunday and monday morning government, fire service & coalition parties emerged looking tired and happy that a resolution had been reached despite the protests of firefighters and other supporters outside.

A unnamed official quickly stated all parties won something and all lost something...A common theme with govt negations of late.

Station Services:

• The station enhancement stategy will continue.
• The closure of rural operations station 82 will continue.
  • Planning & funding for the Station Upgrade & Relocation programme announced in December 2012 will still continue.
• The new station @ Conor for Greenway will co-locate both Career & Volunteer firefighters.
• The new station for the city east to be fast tracked.

Fleet Services:

• Combined frontline fleet will increase by 2 appliances. Urban services will remain @ 26 with rural services increasing by 2 to 23.
• The rescue pumper for new station 11 will be housed at #2 Anslie.
  • Purchase of 1x Aerial Pumper
  • Sale of 1x Aerial Platfom
• Upgrade of 5x Urban Tankers with increased storage.
• The communications appliance will receive heavy modifications to enable hazmat/ba operations receive earlier support.
• Purchase of 2x Wildfire Tankers
  • Conversion of 2x Crew Carriers to Wildfire Tankers
• All volunteer stations will house 2x wildfire tankers plus 1x patrol unit.
• New heavy equipment for the mitigation crew will be further examined.

Human Services:

• Front line career firefighters will frop from 79 to 66 positions resulting in 62 overall positions lost.
• An extra rescue appliance will be manned at Anslie #2 Station until the Pialligo is opened.
• Mitigation Services will reduce from 60 to 30 positions with funding for 15 casual staff per year.
  • Rural operations stations will be under the administration & operational control of Zone Commanders. Training will still come from central office.
• Urban tanker appliances will not be manned outside of severe or above fire danger days.
• Stations with a urban tanker will receive 1x extra firefighter to help offset the staff loss.
• Operational Support Tenders will be manned by one firefighter.

Total of 10 (+1) Career Station, 6 Volunteer Stations, 1 Mitigation Station, operating 47 appliances and 660 Frontline firefighters supported by a streamlined communications, logictics, maintenance & command structure.

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