NSW is undertaking a trial that will exempt privately owned vehicles used to fight fires exempt from registration to support the state’s rural landholders heading into bushfire season.
The trial will see participants nominate a Farm Fire Fighting Vehicle (FFFV), or a vehicle used for firefighting purposes, to respond to emergency bushfire incidents on public roads within 100 kilometres of their home.
FFFVs can be utility vehicles fitted out with hoses and other firefighting equipment, with the initiative hoping to capitalise on the unnecessary need to register these vehicles even if they’re not used outside the farm.
An initial trial of the program was run between December 2023 and March 2024, with the next stage to run from December 13th, 2024, through to March 2025.
Minister for Transport and Regional Roads Jenny Aitchison says legal use of privately-owned firefighting vehicles is crucial to ensuring communities remain as safe as possible in the face of bushfires.
“Bushfire season is one of the challenges our regional communities face, and farmers play a key role in protecting their – and local – properties in times of crisis,” Aitchison says.
“A fire can break out at any time and sometimes help can be far away – so we know it’s critical that neighbours are able to pitch in and help. The ability to legally use dedicated farm fire fighting vehicles and trailers is a key aspect of this.
“The NSW government is determined to find ways to equip our regional farmers with the tools they need to take on this task but remain safe.
“To help ensure our farmers can help and respond when needed while still maintaining the safety of all vehicles on our roads, we are carrying out a second trial this fire season while Transport for NSW and key stakeholders continue to examine ways to establish a permanent scheme that does not compromise road safety.”
More farmers are being encouraged to get involved in the scheme so more feedback can be obtained to inform future options.
“This change is something the Rural Fire Service and advocacy groups such as NSW Farmers have been calling for,” NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib says.
“I encourage more farmers to trial it, so we have the information we need to find a longer-term solution.
“Landholders play an important role in fighting bush and grass fires in rural areas and often work alongside RFS volunteers and other emergency services to keep fires at bay.”
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