- Additional staff member to join Bundaberg RFSQ Area Office
- Five additional staff to join Central Regional Office to oversee region
- Uplift will enhance support to Bundaberg region RFSQ brigades
More staff will be added to the Rural Fire Service Queensland across the Bundaberg and Burnett region to assist local brigades and boost capability for volunteers.
From July 1, the creation of the new Queensland Fire Department will see the management of Rural Fire Service Queensland brigades adopt a new three-tier structure.
Established as an independent body, the Rural Fire Service Queensland will be boosted by an additional 114 positions to support local brigades across Queensland.
The management of 45 RFSQ brigades will transition from the Burnett Area Office to the Bundaberg Area Office, with support from the Central Regional Office.
Eight new staff members will join the existing staff within the Central Regional Office, with a further five RFSQ staff to be introduced at the newly created District Office in Maryborough.
This uplift in staffing will significantly enhance the support provided to the Bundaberg Area Office and to the local rural fire brigades.
As stated by the Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd:
"The creation of the new Queensland Fire Department will strengthen our Rural Fire Service Queensland with more staff providing support and training to local brigades.
"In addition to the 114 new positions that will be created across the Rural Fire Service Queensland, we are also investing in new facilities, equipment and fleet to support our volunteers.
"We want to ensure that volunteers have the resources they need to protect their local communities and continue the great work they do.
"The LNP have already been caught out looking for 'surplus' firefighters, Queenslanders cannot trust David Crisafulli when it comes to investing in the frontline.
As stated by Bundaberg MP Tom Smith:
"Across the Bundaberg region I've seen first-hand the great work that our rural fire volunteers do to protect our local community.
"Last year's bushfires in Goodwood demonstrated just how important their role is in protecting homes and residents from the threat of fire.
"To have more staff across the region to be able to train and support local brigades is a huge win for our Bundaberg community."
