Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, has called on the state government to use the winter months to clean up and level government-owned land next to the Rural Fire Service’s Katoomba Bushfire Control Centre.
The centre on Bathurst and Valley Roads is next door to a decommissioned Sydney Water reservoir tank, which is located on an overgrown, weed infested block.
During bushfire season, staff must find space to store and service emergency vehicles in the existing car park and along the residential streets around the centre.
The terraced Sydney Water site on Valley Road is over 3800 square metres in size, located right next to a sealed section of the bushfire control centre’s car park. RFS personnel have identified the site as an ideal resource to improve the capacity of the centre during bushfire emergencies.
Ms Doyle visited the site with Labor’s water spokesman, Chris Minns, and has described the minor works needed to create a space for the RFS as a “no-brainer”.
“The RFS needs extra space, especially during crises, for their equipment, vehicles and machinery. There’s an opportunity here to get one government department to talk to another one and get a good outcome for the community,” said Ms Doyle.
“While at the moment RFS personnel can actually walk across from their car park to the gravel clearing on the Sydney Water site, they can’t use it properly because it isn’t sealed, the weeds have taken over and they need permission from Sydney Water to enter.”
Mr Minns said the issue was a “really simple fix”.
“If this site, which is otherwise underutilised, can be put to good use then Sydney Water and the RFS should be able to come to an agreement.
“Whether Sydney Water improves the site themselves or if the RFS pays a peppercorn rent for the rights to manage it, there is an opportunity here to use a public asset for the good of the local community and therefore the government should pursue it.”
A spokesperson for NSW water minister Niall Blair said Sydney Water was already working on a similar option with a site at Railway Parade, Woodford and “is always willing to consider arrangements like this, when approached by the RFS”.
“We would welcome further discussions with the RFS and the team at the Blue Mountains Fire Control Centre to look at all options that will help them better perform their important work.”
