Australia’s Green Triangle to gain enhanced aerial firefighting support at Mount Gambier Airport
Iain Hoey
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Upgraded aerial firefighting support for Green Triangle region
Work has commenced to install new firefighting equipment to protect 334,000 hectares of forest plantations across Australia’s Green Triangle region, as reported by the Minister for Emergency Management.
A 144kL water tank and dual diesel-electric water pump are being added to Mount Gambier Regional Airport’s infrastructure, enhancing the area’s aerial firefighting capabilities.
The installation, co-funded by over $415,000 from the Albanese Government’s Disaster Ready Fund and the District Council of Grant, is expected to bolster the capacity of fire authorities to manage bushfires.
This initiative aims to protect forest areas, including pine and blue gum plantations, and communities from Kingston SE, South Australia, to Warrnambool, Victoria.
New assets replace decades-old infrastructure
The upgrade replaces aerial firefighting infrastructure dating back to the 1960s, with the new tank and pump slated for completion in early 2025.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister, highlighted the importance of this upgrade to the region: “The Green Triangle Region is an important part of Australia’s Forestry and Forest Products industry, with this investment core to protecting the pine and blue gum plantations across South Australia’s Limestone Coast and Western Districts of Victoria.”
She added: “Modernising and increasing water access for aerial firefighting means the region is better equipped to combat bushfires, protecting the forestry plantations and the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Forestry workers across the Region.”
Regional and community benefits from new firefighting resources
South Australian Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Dan Cregan, also commented on the project’s benefits: “This upgraded asset will be a critical resource to assist firefighting efforts in the South East, protecting communities and our timber resources.”
He noted that the Disaster Ready Fund’s support would improve fire response for residents and workers in one of the state’s most productive regions, further ensuring safety and industry protection within the Green Triangle.
Local authority’s role in enhanced emergency response
According to the Mayor of the District Council of Grant, Kylie Boston, Mount Gambier Regional Airport serves a critical function in regional emergency management, including aerial firefighting.
Boston remarked: “The Mount Gambier Regional Airport services the Limestone Coast and parts of Western Victoria, as does its infrastructure which plays a critical role in emergency management, particularly in supporting aerial waterbombing over our region.”
Boston explained that the need for this upgrade was identified in collaboration with the Limestone Coast Zone Emergency Management Committee, given the extreme risk bushfires pose without aerial support.
The project’s aim is to provide reliable fire mitigation tools, ensuring a sustainable and effective aerial waterbombing response for decades to come.
Australia’s Green Triangle to gain enhanced aerial firefighting support at Mount Gambier Airport: Summary
New firefighting equipment, including a 144kL water tank and dual diesel-electric water pump, is being installed at Mount Gambier Regional Airport to support bushfire mitigation in Australia’s Green Triangle.
Funded by over $415,000 from the Albanese Government’s Disaster Ready Fund and the District Council of Grant, the project will replace ageing 1960s infrastructure, aiming for completion in the first half of 2025.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister, and South Australian Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Dan Cregan, emphasised the project’s role in protecting forest plantations, communities, and workers across South Australia and Victoria.
Local leaders, including District Council of Grant Mayor Kylie Boston, recognised the airport’s pivotal role in emergency management, with this upgrade marking a significant advancement in regional fire response capabilities.
