AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SPLASHES $500,000 ON WATER TANKER FOR CAPERTEE VALLEY

During the Black Summer Bushfires, the Capertee Valley became ringed by fire. Surrounded by blazes to the north, west and south, and with no connection to town water, the Capertee Rural Fire Service were forced to face down the flames with the last dregs in local dams and tanks – all but dry after three years of drought.

It would become the biggest forest fire in Australian history. The ‘mega-fire’ even more of a nightmare for fire fighters in the remote community of Capertee relying on finite tank water to fill vital firefighting units.

Communities like Capertee, Cullen Bullen and Capertee Valley were almost destroyed by the bushfires. There were some miraculous escapes and close calls.

What the Capertee RFS desperately needed was a Bulk Water Carrier stationed in the community to supply and refill their fire trucks.

Now, thanks to $500,000 in Australian Government funding through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program, the Capertee and District Progress Association can purchase a Category 6 Bulk Water Tanker to protect their community.

The Category 6 Bulk Water Tanker, with a capacity of 9000 litres, will provide critical firefighting and emergency responses that are currently unmet in the wider Capertee, Glen Alice and Ilford communities.

Member for Calare and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Andrew Gee, said it was fantastic that funding for the vital piece of infrastructure had been secured, which will help protect life, property and livestock in Capertee and the surrounding district during fire events for years to come.

“I was in Capertee during the Black Summer Bushfires and witnessed first-hand the dire need for a locally owned and based Category 6 Bulk Water Tanker,” said Minister Gee.

“The local community and RFS brigade were crying out for it. The scale of the emergency meant resources were stretched to the limit.

“A small, borrowed water tanker was brought in to assist, but it was unable to traverse the

rugged bushland, which meant firefighting units were often forced to leave the unrelenting

fireground to refill their vehicles.

“The Gospers Mountain Fire became the largest forest blaze recorded in Australian history, burning more than 500,000 hectares. 

“I commend the Capertee & District Progress Association, and the wider community, for their drive to secure a water tanker to support the Capertee RFS and other brigades in the district.

“A community-owned Category 6 Bulk Water Tanker holds 9,000 litres of water; enough to fill six to eight fire trucks at a fire front, ensuring fire fighters and fire trucks won’t need to leave the fireground to refill.

“The Cat 6 Bulk Water Tanker has a far bigger capacity than other fire fighting vehicles, and can carry firefighting equipment and two crew. The purchase will provide local RFS crews with the confidence that they are better equipped for future fire events.

“The Bulk Water Tanker will also assist local responses to motor vehicle accidents on the Castlereagh Highway which links Mudgee with Lithgow, the Blue Mountains and Sydney.

“As an RFS member myself, I can say that this new tanker will truly be ‘the firey’s friend.’ It’s a wonderful community asset.

“Our region was devastated by the bushfires and recovery is an ongoing process which is going to take years.

“We’ve already had previous rounds of significant bushfire recovery funding and this latest round recognises that we need to keep building through the recovery process.

“One thing we know about Australia is that bushfires will come again.

“With all of the other challenges we’ve had, we need to keep in mind that there are still many people struggling to get their lives, businesses, and organisations back on track.

“Recovery efforts and funding need to occur over the long term and that is what this latest round aims to do,” Mr Gee said.

The Category 6 Bulk Water Tanker for the Capertee and District Progress Association was awarded funding as part of the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.

It is one of 524 community projects funded as part of the $390 million grants program, which was established to assist communities to recover from the devastating 2019-20 bushfires.

The Australian Government has added an additional $110 million to the program to provide extra support to those living in affected communities, including Lithgow. 

Media Contact: Sinead Fogarty – 0417 852 386