Bushfires in the Territory can be unpredictable and turn into a real threat with little notice – that’s why the Territory Labor Government is ensuring we have the best resources available to combat them.
Budget 2023 is investing in the Northern Territory’s aerial firefighting program with a $2.5 million annual investment over 5 years under the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) Agreement.
An integral component of bushfire mitigation in recent years, aerial firefighting is an efficient and highly valued resource for tackling fires across the Territory.
Aircraft are a valuable asset in fighting bushfires and support:
o Firebombing – the dropping of water on or in front of the fire to reduce or halt the spread
o Rapid delivery of firefighters and equipment to remote areas
o Fire detection, investigation and mapping
o Command, communications and control; and
o Aerial ignition to ignite planned fuel reduction backburns.
Investing in the NAFC Agreement for aerial firefighting resources provides Bushfires NT with the capacity to support bushfire responses and assist communities when needed.
Bushfire prevention and protection will also be boosted as part of Budget 2023, with ongoing funding for the Gamba Army taking our total investment in the program to $2.1 million over 5 years, with a total investment of $1.025 million in gamba management.
A highly invasive weed that creates high fuel loads, reducing gamba grass infestations minimises the risk of wildfires.
