Turvey Park Fire and Rescue need more staff, resources, union member says

The plea comes almost 10 months on from an expansion of the Turvey Park Fire and Rescue zone with no significant boost to jobs or firefighting resources made available.

Since the station's conception in the 1970s, employment numbers have seen little to no change, according to a union representative.

"The station's responsibilities are only getting bigger, they're getting busier responding to the growing city, yet the government's investment in firefighters slows," Fire Brigade Employees Union country representative Tim Anderson said.

As of November 2019, Wagga's Fire District gained additional coverage areas to include the suburbs of Springvale, Gobbagombalin and Lloyd.

Turvey Park Fire Station received about 2000 calls in the 12 months to June 30, 2020, with a Fire and Rescue NSW Spokesperson saying the move to expand was an effort to "ensure the ever-growing area of Wagga is protected".

"Turvey Park Fire Station plays an imperative role in the protection of the local community and has a large, dedicated team of firefighters, including permanent and retained staff, that are always prepared to respond to incidents in the area," the spokesperson said.

Yet, Mr Anderson said the team of firefighters was not large enough.

"At Wagga, the firefighters have an aerial appliance, like a cherry picker, which is specialised equipment and needed, but what they really need is an additional fire engine designed to do normal, ever day business," he said.

"Wagga needs another pump with full time firefighters for rapid response, which means a doubling in numbers for the crew."

The issue laid in the hands of the NSW Government, according to Mr Anderson.

"We currently have a government that is reducing or slowing resources in regional areas - you only have to look at the conversations around hospitals at the moment," he said.

"Whether it's fire, education, transport, health, or other vital services, [the government] doesn't seem to see regional areas like Wagga as a priority.

"This is a purely political problem, and the people in regions should have the same expectation that they have access to those services in metropolitan areas, not just for fire brigades, but for all services."

Mr Anderson added that firefighters could only do as much as their resources allowed for.

"Fire management can only work with the resources they're given, and if they aren't given that by the government, they have to make hard decisions they shouldn't have to make," he said.

The Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said they had "an established process to regularly consider the risk profile of the communities we protect, which includes population, and assess the resources required".