The Minns Labor Government is taking the next step in modernising the management of the Rural Fire Service's (RFS) 6,000-strong bush firefighting fleet, helping to better protect communities across NSW.
Amendments to the Rural Fires Act 1997 were introduced to NSW Parliament today to enable the transition of the 'red fleet' from council ownership to the RFS from 1 July 2027.
The transition is backed by a $470 million investment over ten years and will give the NSW Government greater oversight of the vehicles that firefighters and communities rely upon to respond to bushfires and other emergencies.
The new arrangement will deliver consistent statewide standards, improved reliability and better vehicle lifecycle management, while continuing the longstanding partnership with councils to support emergency services.
A key part of the transition will be establishing a network of up to eight regional maintenance hubs, with more than $29 million to be invested over two years to get the network up and running.
The regional hubs will also create jobs and apprenticeship opportunities while supporting local industry and strengthening the resilience of the RFS into the future.
A further $106 million will be invested over four years for critical maintenance and safety upgrades across the state.
Councils will be engaged over the coming months to support the transition and identify opportunities to support future maintenance.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
"This isn't just an investment in trucks - we're building the maintenance network behind them while creating regional jobs and making sure our RFS fleet is reliable and ready to respond.
"We're making sure our firefighters have the vehicles and facilities they need to do their job when communities count on them the most.
"By investing in our firefighting fleet, support vehicles and facilities, we're strengthening community safety and the resilience of our emergency response well into the future."
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:
"The current arrangements have left councils owning vehicles that are operated and managed by the RFS. This reform addresses that longstanding mismatch by aligning ownership with operational responsibility.
"Councils have an important role in bushfire prevention, hazard reduction and emergency management, and that partnership will continue.
"A transition of this scale needs to be carefully managed. Over the next 12 months, we will work closely with councils to make sure they are properly supported, that local knowledge is retained, and that the move to the new arrangements is practical and orderly.
"The Government's $470 million investment over the next decade will support that transition and help deliver a safer, more reliable RFS fleet for communities across NSW."
RFS Commissioner, Trent Curtin said:
"This is a landmark and momentous reform for the RFS and one of the most significant investments in our operational capability in recent years.
"Our firefighters rely on these vehicles every day in some of the most demanding and unpredictable conditions, and it is essential we equip them with a fleet that is safe, reliable and fit for purpose.
"This reform establishes, for the first time, a consistent and modern approach to fleet management across NSW. It strengthens safety, improves reliability and ensures our members are always ready to respond when communities need them."
