Fire and emergency services boost for North Stradbroke Island

Published Wednesday, 10 January, 2018 at 04:18 PM

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services
The Honourable Craig Crawford

The Queensland Government has officially opened a new Rural Fire Service (RFS) station and commissioned a new firefighting vehicle on North Stradbroke Island to give volunteers greater capacity to protect their local community.

The station is co-located with the Amity Point Auxiliary Fire and Rescue Station in a major boost to fire and emergency services on the island.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford officially opened the $110, 000 station today and used the opportunity to pay tribute to the brigade’s volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

“This is a significant event for North Stradbroke Island and another example of this government delivering for Queenslanders,” Mr Crawford said.

“I congratulate all involved in this project and thank them for their commitment and effort – they should all be proud of what they have achieved.

“The station will provide storage for two firefighting units, a support vehicle, storage equipment and amenities for the RFS members and, importantly, it will ensure the volunteers now have a facility to call their own.

“I thank the RFS members for their tireless efforts to fundraise $30,000 for a new support vehicle.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the newly-constructed station recognised the contribution of the brigade’s members as well as the island community.

“This has been a community-driven project from the outset and one that has highlighted the commitment of those involved,” Ms Carroll said.

“The North Stradbroke Island community made the decision to form the RFS brigade following a bushfire in 2014 that required deployment of considerable resources from the mainland.

“The brigade is thriving and has 17 operationally trained firefighters and 48 supporting volunteers covering an area of 111 square kilometres.”

Ms Carroll said the focus now was to ensure the venture continued to have local ownership.

“The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation has had a large part in this project and many of its rangers have been trained by QFES,” she said.

“The brigade’s plan going forward is to include and give ownership to the younger Quandamooka people.

“Local rangers have been invited to paint a mural on the new building and will also be invited to decorate a completely refurbished fire truck scheduled to arrive on the island next month.

“They are also being encouraged to join the RFS and participate in the ongoing role of the brigade to ensure the North Stradbroke Island community has a dedicated volunteer firefighting force well into the future.”


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