Country Mayors Welcomes Report on RFS Assets
Published on 30 May 2025
Mayor Rick Firman OAM, Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA) has welcomed the release of the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into the Assets, Premises and Funding of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Inquiry, undertaken to examine whether the current frameworks governing assets, premises and funding for the RFS remained appropriate, effective and sustainable, released its much-anticipated report this week.
“Local Government has long complained that the way that fire fighting assets are managed in NSW no longer reflects on-ground reality. Most residents are not aware that virtually all RFS assets and equipment from fire trucks to sheds, are actually owned by their local council and not the RFS. Further they are not aware that even though councils own the assets, carry them on their books and are responsible for their maintenance, we have absolutely no control over them. In most cases councils do not even have a key to the RFS sheds they own and maintain” Mayor Firman said.
The matter has come to a head in recent years, when the depreciation of the RFS equipment has hit council finances hard. The CMA, LGNSW, Joint Organisations, Regional Organisations of Councils and councils across the State have lobbied hard for what has become known as the “Red Fleet” to be removed from council asset registers and transferred to where they belong, the RFS.
The Public Accounts Committee found that the current arrangements where the RFS exercise operational control over the Red Fleet but ownership rests with councils has created substantial inefficiencies, administrative duplication, legal ambiguity and audit complications. The Committee’s Report states that it received no evidence supporting the continuation of councils’ ownership of the Red Fleet.
“The CMA Board and Members strongly supports the Committee’s assessment of the current arrangements and we warmly welcome its recommendation that the Rural Fires Act be amended to recognise that the RFS owns and operates the Red Fleet” Mayor Firman said.
The recommendation is one of 14 made by the Committee which will result in updating the 1997 Rural Fires Act to better reflect the way that the RFS operates and bushfires are managed in 2025.
“The CMA Board and Members extend our appreciation to the Inquiry Chairman, Mr Jason Yat-Sen Li MP, Member for Strathfield and the Committee members for their genuine commitment to engage with local government on this matter and find a sustainable pathway forward.” Mayor Firman said.
The CMA has written to the Minister for Emergency Services, Hon Jihad Dib MP to strongly encourage the Government to adopt and implement the Committee’s recommendations ahead of the 25/26 Bushfire season.
“The situation with the Red Fleet has festered for far too long, The Committee has put clear recommendations forward to resolve the situation and Local Government is looking forward to seeing all stakeholders moving together to support the implementation of the recommendations as swiftly as possible. We welcome the support we have received for the Inquiry from the Minister for Local Government, Hon Ron Hoenig MP and the NSW Treasurer, Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC” Mayor Firman said.
“The CMA Board and Members strongly support the work of the RFS and its thousands of volunteers who constantly put their lives on the line to make our communities safer. Our CMA members will continue to work constructively with the RFS particularly in the areas of mitigation, vegetation management and providing resources like earthmoving equipment and road closures when emergencies occur” Mayor Firman said.
For further information, contact: CMA Chairman - Mayor Rick Firman OAM: 0429 204 060