In a significant win for local government, a NSW Parliamentary committee has recommended that the state's Rural Fire Service fleet should be legally recognised as NSW Government assets.
The Public Accounts Committee has tabled the report for its "Inquiry into the assets, premises and funding of the NSW Rural Fire Service" with all 14 recommendations warmly welcomed by the local government sector.
President of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Mayor Cr Phyllis Miller OAM says the report's recommendations strongly align with the positions advocated by LGNSW and councils.
"This significant win comes after years of strong advocacy from LGNSW and from individual councils," Cr Miller said.
"Of course, every council strongly supports the RFS and the incredible work they do for our communities. But the reality is that councils have no say in the acquisition, deployment or disposal of the RFS 'Red Fleet' assets, so it's illogical that councils should be expected to account for these assets and manage associated audit obligations.
"The truth is that the management and oversight arrangements of the RFS have gradually shifted over many years, and outdated ownership and accounting arrangements need to be updated.
"We are so grateful to the members of this committee who have heard that message and have come out so strongly in recommending much-needed change."
Key recommendations of the inquiry report include:
- Transferring legal ownership of the Red Fleet assets to the RFS
- Amending the Rural Fires Act 1997 to recognise that the NSW RFS - and not local government - is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Red Fleet assets.
- Amending the Rural Fires Act to clarify that the NSW RFS has primary responsibility for bush fire mitigation and hazard reduction, with councils playing a supporting role.
- Amending the Rural Fires Act so that the NSW RFS is responsible for the provision of new premises in the future.
Mayor Miller says the report must now be followed by swift action.
"I thank the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Ron Hoenig MP, for referring this matter for inquiry and I now urge the NSW Government to adopt the recommendations and move without delay towards implementation of these long-overdue reforms."
