Coorong district firefighters get a $122,000 boost
A survey and equipment upgrades at water access points across the district will help the Country Fire Service protect communities.
New fittings will be attached to tanks and bores across the Coorong district to ensure firefighters can access them in case of emergency.
The federal government announced last month that it would put $122,000 towards a survey of water access points across the Coorong and Tatiara council areas.
Fittings which match those used by the Country Fire Service will be put onto any points that do not have them.
Acting Coorong Mayor Jonathan Pietzsch said the project was a proactive step towards protecting lives, property and farm equipment.
“Grants like this are critical to strengthening our region’s preparedness, enabling a more efficient approach to firefighting in an environment where time is critical.” he said.
The two councils and their ratepayers will jointly chip in another $137,000 for the project.
Significant fires are not unheard of in the Coorong district, which mostly consists of flat cropping and grazing country with few natural breaks.
A fire at Yumali in 2020, sparked by a fallen power line, burned an area of almost 4900 hectares, impacting 14 farm businesses.
Several smaller fires were reported across the district in 2018 and 2019.
