Young Roseworthy farm worker David Hayman has used his grant from the State Government’s Regional Community Capability Fund to help him prepare for the fire season.
Mr Hayman is one of nine local farmers who were successful in obtaining grants from the $470,000 state-wide Fund to help upgrade their firefighting capabilities.
The grant helped Mr Hayman to purchase a 600 litre fire farm unit which he has mounted onto his Land Cruiser.
Mr Hayman said the Pinery fire last year highlighted the need for all farmers and residents in the area to be on alert and ready for any fire. “Wherever I go to work on any farm, the fire unit will be with me ready to fight a fire,” said Mr Hayman.
“The Farm Fire Unit Fund made it possible for me to purchase the unit and once I have completed the necessary training I will seek to register the unit with the local CFS,” he said.
Local Member of Parliament Mr Tony Piccolo, who initiated the scheme while Minister for Emergency Services, said the grants help boost the frontline emergency response in local communities.
Another local farmer, Mr Tony Fotheringham who was one of the successful applicants in 2015 used his grant to upgrade the pump on his farm fire unit, which was also used to fight the Pinery fires.
“Farm firefighting units are always needed to take the pressure off brigades,” said Mr Fotheringham.
Assessment of applications takes into account value for money, geographic location, existing capability and risk factors unique to the individual property.
Mr Piccolo said that an important aspect of the scheme is to improve the safety involved with fire farm units, so all successful applicants will be required to demonstrate that they have completed appropriate training before receiving grant funds.