The Far Northern Region State Emergency Service (SES) today (Friday) received vital new equipment under a $200,000 funding program.
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford this morning handed over the new equipment in Cairns, as part of the Energising Queensland SES Equipment Program.
"It’s great to present our hardworking SES groups with more than $40,000 of this much-needed equipment, which includes Automatic External Defibrillators, lighting, generators and chainsaws," Mr Crawford said.
"This handover is part of the $200,000 resource injection for the state, delivered by SES Supporting Partners - Energy Queensland and Powerlink Queensland."
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the new equipment would benefit SES groups from Alexandra Bay, Atherton, Buchan Point, Cairns, Cardwell, Cooktown, Croydon, Edmonton, Georgetown, Herberton, Holloways Beach, Kuranda, Lakeland, Machans Beach, Mareeba, Mission Beach, Mossman, Trinity Beach and Weipa.
"It’s great to see practical support for SES groups in the Far Northern Region to ensure they have the equipment to help Queenslanders in times of need," Mr Pitt said.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said making sure frontline emergency services were well-equipped to deal with emergencies was "just one way that we can help to protect our communities and keep them safe".
"When severe weather events and emergencies occur, this equipment will support our SES volunteers to respond, while also protecting the health and safety of the SES volunteers and community," he said.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said this was the eighth and final equipment handover for the year under the partnership - with others completed in the South East Region, Mackay, North Coast Region, Northern Region, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Emerald.
"The hours that our SES dedicate to protecting Queensland communities is highly valued and greatly appreciated," she said.
Powerlink Executive General Manager, Operations and Service Delivery Gary Edwards said he was proud of their ongoing partnership to deliver equipment to the state’s SES groups.
"The work volunteers do to help keep communities safe during critical times is invaluable," Mr Edwards said.
"We are so pleased to be assisting groups in the region to continue providing this support through this important partnership."
