As i have mentioned before, the 14 is far better suited to Birdwood than the QRV (my personal opinion is that a second heavy tanker would be more appropriate, however we will have to see how the 14 goes first, it may surprise us!!).
To my knowledge ex-Birdwood QRV is now a regional resource (much the same as Tanunda QRV) and although based from Mt Pleasant can be shifted anywhere at regions discretion...
I have no idea what went on at the state level, however there are some SFEC changes in the pipeline, as Birdwood and surrounding areas risks have increased substantially over the last 10 or so years.
Thanks mate. Thats the kind of stuff i am wondering. The local area down here has had a susbstantial increase in infrastructure, and yet the fire cover has remained in the form of a single rural/urban HT [current build 34] for years. Some background work has been done investigating applications for QRVs for plantation/vineyard firefighting plus other advantages at prangs, etc. Infrastructure is there in the form of a two bay station, we have a trailer we currently cant tow, etc, so was curious as to how a move like that is made to a brigade already sporting two HTs for a workload covered by some brigades with only one.
However, who really knows what goes on at a state level.
And as i said, still baffled as to how Birdwood [regardless of risk, which i agree is quite substantial but no differant really to our or any other Adelaide Hills area brigades area] can go from a single HT to a HT and a LT without an alteration to SFEC.
Mind you, look at some other stunning examples out there;
4 appliances at Carey Gully for an average of 40 calls a year.
A brand new 34P to Tarlee, who has 2 airsets, no HAZMAT or RCR, and only an average of 25 calls a year.
An HT and a QRV at Furner for an average 3 calls a year.
The list goes on and on.
Without meaning to just sound like im having a whinge, i would just like to know what thought process is put into appliance allocation statewide considering no substantial changes to SFECs have occured in years.