THUDDUNGRA residents are just that much more safe, secure and certain thanks to a Rural Fire Service RFS) local brigade initiative which has seen the installation of a permanent water tank and ready water supply for domestic and emergency use.
Eighteen months ago, Thuddungra RFS brigade senior deputy captain David Rowland approached Young Shire Council for funding to create this permanent static water supply as dry conditions continued and a lack of available water was becoming an actual fire safety hazard.
“We identified a real need for a secure and fast source of water in the event of a fire and saw the additional benefit to the community if a permanent water source was available,” Mr Rowland said.
“The council gave us a $2000 grant to kick start the project without which it would never have come to fruition.”
The Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) added almost $4000 to the kitty and Harden RFS brigade donated a 90mm stand pipe and the project was ready for installation.
The Thuddungra brigade put in around $1500 in extras and had a weekend working bee to install the 5500 gallon tank, 90mm gravity fed poly piping and the 90mm stand pipe for fast fire truck filling in emergencies.
The tank was connected to an existing bore on RLPB land which maintained a damn on the local Travelling Stock Route (TSR) and has recently also been supplying water to Thuddungra residents through the drought.
Ron Dugan, ranger with the RLPB explained that the RLPB also had the option of running a connection across the road onto the TSR to provide a more secure water source for stock.
“The tank storage and a stock trough will have far less wastage from evaporation and be easier to keep clean and fresh,” Mr Dugan said.
Mr Rowland explained that the bore has a manual start for when the tank is getting low, but an automatic float valve off switch to allow easy tank filling, while a floating depth guage can be seen from the road to make for easy monitoring.
A pressure pump connected to the tank allows residents to access the very clean high quality bore water for domestic use and of course, the 90mm stand pipe will allow fire trucks to refill with a very quick turnaround.
“Thank you to the RLPB and also the Harden RFS for their support and the supply of some of the stand pipe fittings,” Mr Rowland added.
“We really must thank John Drum and all of the council for their initial support,” Mr Rowland said.
“It is great to see some of the local rates coming back into the small villages for something that will be a be a great benefit for years to come.”
“In dry conditions, water is so scarce that finding supplies in a fire event is a real issue.
“If any landowners have a water source suitable for a static water supply in a fire emergency, could they please contact the Harden Fire Control Centre on 6386 3170,” Mr Rowland added.
“The RFS is attempting to build an new, accurate map of water locations across the state before the fire season gets underway.”
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