Amphibious response vehicle sent to Rockhampton for floods

The Queensland Government has moved two new major ambulance incident response vehicles, including the amphibious Argo Avenger, to Rockhampton in anticipation of the Fitzroy River floodwaters peaking early next week.

Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has recently commissioned the Argo Avenger and its Tactical Support Vehicle and among the first people they will assist will be Rockhampton residents.

The vehicles will be operated by a seven-member Special Operations Response Team (SORT), a manager and logistics operator.

"The Argo Avenger is an eight-wheel amphibious vehicle. Its unique ability to traverse almost any terrain, enables the QAS to continue to deliver world class pre-hospital emergency care in emergency operations where conventional ambulance vehicles do not have access."

"The Tactical Support Vehicle has already been used in these floods. It helped establish a temporary hospital and intensive care unit at the Charleville Showgrounds and an intensive care unit at Emerald," Mr Schwarten said.

"It is a 15-tonne truck that can be readily deployed to support ambulance personnel at major incidents. It is capable of carrying additional medical and welfare supplies and communications equipment. It also has a mobile command centre to assist with field communications at large-scale events," Mr Schwarten said.

Both vehicles have arrived in Rockhampton this afternoon (Saturday, 26 January).

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said both vehicles were commissioned by the QAS to add an extra dimension to the fleet and prove useful in any possible pandemic event or major disaster, such as these floods.

"The deployment of the Tactical Support Vehicle in Charleville and Emerald with trained intensive care paramedics was important to the immediate relief and recovery effort in these centres," Mr Roberts said.

"While the Fitzroy River is not expected to peak in Rockhampton until Tuesday or Wednesday, we believe it is important to forward deploy these vehicles as part of our preparations for the rising floodwaters."

26 January 2008

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350