New rig improves response

The Australind State Emergency Service unit is better positioned to respond to emergencies with the addition of a new four-wheel-drive to its fleet.

The new Toyota LandCruiser personnel carrier was bought by Harvey Shire Council through an Emergency Services Levy incorporated into property rates.

After being fitted out with a roof rack, long-range fuel tanks, hand-held radios, spot lights and the SES logo, the vehicle arrived at the Australind unit last week.

The vehicle cost $80,000 once fully fitted out and replaced an 11-year-old four-wheel-drive of the same type.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services natural hazards district officer Nick Elrick said the new vehicle had better safety credentials than the old one.

"There’s a bit of new technology and safety things like airbags, which the old one didn’t have," Mr Elrick said.

Unit manager Shaye Torney said the vehicle would mostly be used for storm damage responses, to help with searches and to tow the emergency SES trailer.

Miss Torney said the crew was excited to use the new vehicle that also had better range than the previous one.

Harvey shire corporate services manager Ron Scantlebury said the vehicle was a good example of what was purchased with money collected through the Emergency Services Levy.

"It’s a State Government levy collected by the local government through council rates," he said.

"It needed to combine good road transport with emergency work.

"Last year we had a meeting, training and operations room put on the building through the same funding source."

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