❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the operation, cost, and water source of large air tankers used for firefighting in WA during the 2022-23 fire season. The response provides some data but withholds commercially sensitive and cabinet-in-confidence information.
AnsweredQoN 1232Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the operation of large air tankers in Western Australia in 2022-23, and I ask: (a) how many missions have been flown by the: (i) WA contracted C-130 large air tanker; (ii) the national large air tanker prior to its destruction on 6 February 2023; and (iii) any other large air tanker utilised or deployed to Western Australia; (b) of those identified in (a), how many of the missions departed from: (i) Busselton Airport; (ii) RAAF Pearce; and (iii) another airport; (c) for those aircraft which reloaded at RAAF Pearce, what was the source of the water used; (d) can the Government confirm that no per-and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated water was utilised by any mission conducted by the Large Air Tankers departing RAAF Pearce; (e) has a cost benefit analysis of the use of large air tankers in Western Australia been undertaken and, if not, why not; (f) please table the WA cost benefit analysis referred to in (e); (g) please table the business case for the procurement of the WA based C-130 large air tanker; (h) please table the contract relating to the procurement of the WA based C-130 large air tanker; and (i) what is the hourly operating cost of the WA based C-130 large air tanker?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2023
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services
Response time
6 days
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) advises:
(a) (i) 59 missions.
(ii) 30 missions.
(iii) Nil.
(b) (i) 65 missions departed from Busselton Margaret River Airport.
(ii) 22 missions departed from RAAF Pearce.
(iii) 2 missions departed from Learmonth Airport.
(c) Reticulated mains water supply.
(d) Yes.
(e) No. A review will be conducted at the end of the 2022/2023 fire season.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) The ERC Submission for the LAT remains Cabinet in Confidence.
(h) Redacted Contract attached.
(i) The operating costs remain Commercial in Confidence.
(a) (i) 59 missions.
(ii) 30 missions.
(iii) Nil.
(b) (i) 65 missions departed from Busselton Margaret River Airport.
(ii) 22 missions departed from RAAF Pearce.
(iii) 2 missions departed from Learmonth Airport.
(c) Reticulated mains water supply.
(d) Yes.
(e) No. A review will be conducted at the end of the 2022/2023 fire season.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) The ERC Submission for the LAT remains Cabinet in Confidence.
(h) Redacted Contract attached.
(i) The operating costs remain Commercial in Confidence.
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