A new Rural Fire Service mitigation crew will be established at Bulahdelah to help ensure the safety of the community against bushfires.
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Mitigation crews perform a number of roles, such as helping to prepare areas for hazard reduction by volunteer brigades.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott and Myall Lakes MP Stephen Bromhead were in Bulahdelah for the announcement. The crew is part of a $10.7 million investment to fast track the State's hazard reduction program as well as a $34.4 million investment to upgrade the RFS firefighting fleet.
Mr Elliott said despite the 2019-2020 'Black Summer' bushfires burning more than five million hectares of land, there was still more to be done to prepare for the season ahead.
"The $10.7 million for hazard reduction will create an additional 100 jobs, forming 25 crews from Albury to Armidale which will support and supplement volunteers and fast track hazard reduction," Mr Elliott said.
"The $34.4 million investment in the RFS fleet will also help expedite essential upgrades and the rollout of new vehicles to brigades who need them most, delivering 120 new and 70 refurbished trucks by then end of next financial year (2020-21)."
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Mr Bromhead said a better prepared community was a more resilient community.
"Since their establishment over a decade ago, State mitigation crews have provided valuable assistance to brigades in helping to reduce the impact of a potential bushfire," Mr Bromhead said.
"Bringing these crew members on board enables us to expand on this important work, in particular increasing our capacity to conduct burns during the week when volunteers are at work."
Mr Elliott and Mr Bromhead also inspected works at the new Rainbow Flat Brigade Station, which was destroyed as a result of the devastating fires during the last fire season.
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