Councils across the Adelaide Hills face provided vital support to police and the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) in efforts to bring bushfires under control.
Local Government Association of South Australia President, Mayor David O’Loughlin said he was not surprised that Council staff worked quietly, behind the scenes, to assist in the bushfire effort.
“Councils have their communities foremost in mind at all times and their joint efforts over the past seven days should not go unnoticed.
“Adelaide Hills Council, Playford, Tea Tree Gully, Burnside, Mt Barker, Barossa, Mitcham, Salisbury and Norwood, Payneham and St Peters pitched in to help where needed by emergency services.
“The Adelaide Hills and Playford water tankers worked 18 hours a day to refill CFS fire trucks, Council administration assisted by providing property owners’ contact details to emergency services, arborists from several Councils assisted to assess tree damage, earthmoving equipment was deployed to clear debris off roads and Council staff helped run the incident control centre at One Tree Hill.
“Several Councils in and around the fire ground also supplied water trucks, graders, front end loaders and chainsaws with staff members working around the clock to man phones at the emergency relief station at the Golden Grove Recreation Centre.
“Mt Barker opened up the Nairne Oval which was turned into a tent city to accommodate interstate fire fighters and six staff members from Burnside worked on the fire ground under the direction of the CFS.”
Mayor O’Loughlin said many other councils indicated their readiness to help if required.
“I am pleased but not surprised at the level of involvement of Councils in this sad emergency event.
“That is what Local Government does, we work together for our communities,” he said.
“Councils now have a significant task ahead of them to help their communities recover and rebuild.
“This is where the Local Government family will again shine as affected Councils will need help to dispose of dead animals, miles and miles of ruined fencing and fence posts and building material that is past a salvageable stage.”
