1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: You are listening to Mix one O four point nine. 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: Now joining me live in the studio right now, we 3 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: know the new Palmerston Regional Fire and Emergency Services Complex, Well, 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: it's at the half way mark. And joining us in 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: the studio is Mark Spain, who is the chief fire 6 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: officer here in the Northern Territory. 7 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 2: Good morning Spainy, Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners. 8 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: Now mate, where exactly is the new fire station? I 9 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: know that some of our listeners this morning know exactly 10 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: where it is, but for us town is where exactly 11 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: is it. 12 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 2: It's well situated for the growth of the Litchfield area 13 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 2: in the Palmston area, so it's on the Howd Springs Road, 14 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: so it gives us good connectivity to the Stuart High 15 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 2: and back feeds into Palmerston and also allows us to 16 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: head out to cool A Lingo. As you know, that's 17 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: a really major growth area at the moment. 18 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: And obviously it's reached the half way mark. You know, 19 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: why was the new fire station need it? 20 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: Well, if you look back on our Palmston original station 21 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: which we still habitat, is that was built in nineteen 22 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 2: eighty three and it's actually built just for four same 23 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: Sex firefighters. But as you know, fire Rescue Service is 24 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: really driving to move forward to a diverse workforce which 25 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 2: is in line with our community, So in line with 26 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: the Barrimer fire Station, the Castro and fire station. This 27 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 2: new complex I'm really excited about is we'll just be 28 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: out of focus for that. But not only that, as 29 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 2: you highlighted earlier, we've got such growth in the Palmerston area, 30 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: in the Coolinga area. It allows us to future plan 31 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: for expansion and. 32 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: So obviously we'll serve as sort of that more not 33 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: only Palmeston, but out a little bit further out to 34 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: the rural area as well. Yeah. 35 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I think for the listeners, I think how the 36 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: fire rescue service works. We actually just respond just not 37 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: only to fires, we do structure fires. So if you 38 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 2: have a look at Palmston itself, I think the population 39 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: has just been announced at thirty eight thousand people. So 40 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: my crews do that, and then under my legislation obligations, 41 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 2: we also have to respond outside of our emergency response areas, 42 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: so we do ray crash rescue and has Matt all 43 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: those sort of things and any other emergencies that we're 44 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: confronted with. And the idea for that is to give 45 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 2: us in a good corridors so that we can get 46 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: to them in a totally manner. 47 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff. Now, I understand that there's also sort 48 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: of recruitment underway at the moment for the next round 49 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: of fire ees. What exactly are you looking for? On 50 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: how many are you trying to recruit? 51 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: We're looking for another twelve. The CEO, which is the 52 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: commissioner please mister Chalker, has signed off on a further 53 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: twelve recruits and that will bolster our systems. And of 54 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,839 Speaker 2: course we've got beautiful weather up here. You know, during 55 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: the build up it'll be a great time to come 56 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: down to do a come and try day which is 57 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 2: scheduled for Saturday, but you will need to book in. 58 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: It's just don't show up on the day because it's 59 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: a structured program. 60 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: So you've got to book in to have a crack 61 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: at this. 62 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely if you go to our PFS Facebook site and 63 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: that will give you all the links and how to 64 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: book in. 65 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: Now, I did this for the police not so long ago, 66 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: and that was pretty hard, but I've heard that it's 67 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: actually harder to get into the firees. Oh. The fitness 68 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: test and a few of those things are a bit 69 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: more difficult, aren't they. 70 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, the police say all they do is sit you 71 00:02:58,440 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 2: in a car, see if the seatbelts come to all 72 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: their conditions good. We actually put on some pretty good 73 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: gear and go running around and saving the community. So 74 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: you don't let that. 75 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: So what exactly, like, what kind of things do you 76 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: look for when people do their fitness test? 77 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 2: Well, as I led to before, it's just not a 78 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: matter of going in and fighting wildfires or structured fires. 79 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: We do hasmatt, hazardous materials, we do confined space, we 80 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: do a number of things that associated with the fire service. 81 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: So you can imagine the public would say if something 82 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: went wrong, they would call the fires, and we want 83 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: to be in a position to do that. So it 84 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: is very arduous. I make no apologies for that. We're 85 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: looking for very fit people that will be in line 86 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: with our community for a great career, and there are 87 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: many opportunities within fire service. It's just not shift work. 88 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: We do training and development. We've got fire safety, which 89 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: if you have a look at all the high rises, 90 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 2: we get involved in that for the safety of our people. 91 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 2: So there's a lot of behind the scenes within the 92 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 2: fire and rescue service that people may not be aware of. 93 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so you're looking for twelve. If people do 94 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: want to come down and have a bit of a trial, 95 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: they can actually do that Saturday. Did you say Sunday 96 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: as well? 97 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: Or just Saturday Sunday schedule for Alis Springs for the 98 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: same reads because I have twenty seven locations across the 99 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 2: territory predominantly volunteer, but I do have career stations at 100 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: El Springs and dary On, yeah, and five track stations. 101 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: So there's a great opportunity for a future career. 102 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: Absolutely, now, Spainy, before I let you go, when exactly 103 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: I know someone's message through in us. When are we 104 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: expecting the Palmeston the new fire station to be operational? 105 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 2: Well, the wet season is predicted to be wet this season, 106 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: but it was scheduled for May, but it may be 107 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,120 Speaker 2: pushed back. But they're just visiting it out there and 108 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: with the minister and Minister mister Nicole Madison, you know, 109 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 2: she's invested twenty five million dollars into this and they're 110 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: just really getting ahead so we can keep keep progressing 111 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: on time, so we should be up and running for 112 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: our five season. 113 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 1: And I know it's it is always a busy time 114 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: for you guys, but we're coming towards the end of 115 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: the season now at the moment in the top end, 116 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 1: aren't we. It's been a pretty busy. 117 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: One, absolutely, and I keep plugging our volunteers, so you know, 118 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 2: we really would be in a whole world to hurt 119 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: if we didn't have our volunteers who turn up day in, 120 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: day out. So yes, we have had a very busy one. 121 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,479 Speaker 2: We'll still see a lot of activity at the moment, 122 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 2: but as the humidity comes in and the long drawn 123 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: out beautiful weather for our recruits will will come to 124 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 2: a close. But the southern region will kick off, Yeah 125 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:28,119 Speaker 2: it will. 126 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: That's the thing. It's going to be busy down there 127 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: in Central Australia. Well, Mark Spain, it's always great to 128 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: catch up with you. Thank you so much for your 129 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: time this morning, and no doubt we'll talk to you 130 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: again in the very near future. 131 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Cadie,