COUNCIL NEWS
Moreton Bay (Qld)
The donation is expected to double the operational ability of SES crews to respond to emergencies.
The new equipment was funded by Moreton Bay City Council and state government.
Seven new Ford Ranger general response vehicles and three storm response trailers were formally handed over at the Moreton Bay SES at their headquarters in Murrumba Downs on Saturday, July 26.
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery says the new fleet additions will help SES crews better serve the Bay’s growing population during crises while boosting their emergency response capacity.
“The new vehicles … feature improved suspension and lift for better ground clearance and performance in poor conditions, purpose-built ladder racks, 360-degree high intensity lights and a 3500kg towing capacity for speciality rescue equipment like ATVs and flood boats,” he says.
“These are the best available resources money can buy to help our community when they need it the most.”
Flannery says new storm response trailers will carry vital equipment and supplies on the field such as chainsaws, power tools, hand tools, tarps, sandbags and rope.
“Those SES groups who received a storm trailer in this handover will now each have two trailers at their disposal, meaning two SES teams working in different locations can be equipped and supplied at the same time,” Flannery says.
“This is critical in emergency scenarios where every second counts,” he said.
NEW VEHICLES ‘OFFER MORE’
Local Disaster Management Group chairman and councillor Matthew Constance says the new vehicles are a “quantum leap” over the ones they replaced; the previous fleet averages 150,000 kilometres on the clock.
“These new vehicles are a real step up.
“They can go from helping clean up after a storm, to launching a flood boat for rescues, to heading off-road to search for someone missing in the bush. That kind of flexibility is exactly what we need in a disaster response,” he says.
The vehicles and trailers were funded through a $200,000 council contribution and $350,000 from the State Government, an SES Support Grant and the Community Gambling Benefit Fund.
The donation follows the delivery of a new people mover to Deception Bay SES group and a 4×4 dual cab general response vehicle to Woodford SES group in June (jointly funded by council and the government).
Council will also fund the purchase of a new dual cab 4×4 ute to serve as an SES command vehicle.
