We have already seen a significant number of fires in NSW and the season has only just started with this year predicted to be the worst in over 60 years and QLD is facing a similar risk so can anyone explain why both states are cutting funding to emergency services.
We have already seen protest gatherings in QLD and there are a significant number of unhappy people in the NSW Rural Fire Service, this to me is a major issue as I have spent over 35 years as an RFS volunteer and although some think we get paid I have never recieved one single cent in renumeration, but it is estimated that the 70 thousand volunteers save the state around 1.3 BILLION Dollars per year.
I NSW funding for the RFS comes from the insurance industry, local Government and just one seventh from State Government who are now taking some $11.7 million over 4 years almost $3 million per year out of the RFS budget for the RFS this is a significant reduction but for Government budget an insignificant amount and the potential impact on volunteers and the community is significant, I believe that it is also a risk to the safety of Volunteers as training and the supply of Radio communications are both going to be impacted.
There is also the potential for members of our forum to be negatively impacted by this Government decision especially if you free camp in National Parks or in the bush as we have experianced massive growth both in the bush and in the grasslands due to the last couple of years above average rain so its critical that you take extra care when selecting a camp site and if you have a camp fire please bury the ashes befor you leave.
I will try over the comming fire season to keep you informed of active fires on the forum.
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hi Janette maybe between the two of us we could help provide information on fire situations to forum members I am aware of at least one other Volunteer who is a forum member
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
Yes, good idea! I posted a list of the NSW toban areas a while back on a bad day, which I thought might be handy in regards to not lighting cooking fires as well.
