❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the specifications, cost, and operational limitations of new light tankers used by Volunteer Fire and Rescue Stations, with the Minister providing detailed responses regarding water capacity, towing, and vehicle safety.
AnsweredQoN 1115Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the manufacture of new light tankers by Frontline Fire and Rescue, and I ask: (a) what is the value of each vehicle noting that media statements refer to an amount of $240,000, however handover documents sight a figure of $268,000; (b) how much water does each vehicle carry; (c) of the water identified in (b), how much is quarantined for crew protection and therefore not available for firefighting; (d) how does the volume of water identified in (b) and (c,) compare with the previous generation of light tankers; (e) is the Minister aware that the speedometers of these vehicles are not displaying accurately arising from different sized tyres being fitted and, if yes, what action is being taken to rectify this; (f) what limitations are placed on the vehicles towing capacity with a full tank of water; (g) please identify the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Stations (VFRS) that continue to utilise a rescue trailer (or similar); (h) of those identified in (g), what is the age of the light tankers issued to each station; (i) what is the crew capacity of each light tanker; and (j) how many firefighters are required to safely open the bonnet of a light tanker?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 February 2023
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
7 days
The Light Tanker design and functionality is developed and recommended through a Project Advisory Team (PAT). The PATs include SME and Union/Association representatives.
(a) All amounts are approximate and Commercial in Confidence. The cost of $268,000 would include stowed equipment.
(b) 500 litres.
(c) Nil, all water is available for firefighting.
(d) 50 litres less operational water. The previous model did not have deluge water.
(e) I am advised by DFES that the speedometers in Light Vehicles meet the accuracy requirements of the Australian Design Rules (ADR).
(f) The general instruction for towing trailers of up to 2 tonnes is that water must be reduced to a marked level. This instruction is to maintain axle load as up to 200kg additional load from the trailer ball is added. This general instruction is intended where weight measurements have not been completed. For regular incident responses with trailers (e.g. road crash), axle weight measurements including the trailer can be made to identify whether the load is within limits including a full tank of water. If within limits, no water reduction is required.
(g) – (h) Refer to table
(g) - VFRS Stations
(h) - Age (years)
Coolgardie VFRS
8
Cue VFRS
8
Cunderdin VFRS
11
Denmark VFRS
8
Derby VFRS
12
Donnybrook VFRS
13
Goomalling VFRS
10
Kellerberrin VFRS
8
Kununurra VFRS
0
Laverton VFRS
6
Leonora VFRS
6
Mandurah VFRS
8
Moora VFRS
6
Mount Magnet VFRS
6
Norseman VFRS
8
Northampton VFRS
0
Pinjarra VFRS
12
Quairading VFRS
11
Roebourne VFRS
0
Toodyay VFRS
12
Wagin VFRS
11
Wongan Hills VFRS
10
York VFRS
12
(i) Two.
(j) This is dependent on a risk assessment for each firefighter.
(a) All amounts are approximate and Commercial in Confidence. The cost of $268,000 would include stowed equipment.
(b) 500 litres.
(c) Nil, all water is available for firefighting.
(d) 50 litres less operational water. The previous model did not have deluge water.
(e) I am advised by DFES that the speedometers in Light Vehicles meet the accuracy requirements of the Australian Design Rules (ADR).
(f) The general instruction for towing trailers of up to 2 tonnes is that water must be reduced to a marked level. This instruction is to maintain axle load as up to 200kg additional load from the trailer ball is added. This general instruction is intended where weight measurements have not been completed. For regular incident responses with trailers (e.g. road crash), axle weight measurements including the trailer can be made to identify whether the load is within limits including a full tank of water. If within limits, no water reduction is required.
(g) – (h) Refer to table
(g) - VFRS Stations
(h) - Age (years)
Coolgardie VFRS
8
Cue VFRS
8
Cunderdin VFRS
11
Denmark VFRS
8
Derby VFRS
12
Donnybrook VFRS
13
Goomalling VFRS
10
Kellerberrin VFRS
8
Kununurra VFRS
0
Laverton VFRS
6
Leonora VFRS
6
Mandurah VFRS
8
Moora VFRS
6
Mount Magnet VFRS
6
Norseman VFRS
8
Northampton VFRS
0
Pinjarra VFRS
12
Quairading VFRS
11
Roebourne VFRS
0
Toodyay VFRS
12
Wagin VFRS
11
Wongan Hills VFRS
10
York VFRS
12
(i) Two.
(j) This is dependent on a risk assessment for each firefighter.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.