A special registration solution for farm vehicles used to fight fires in NSW is long overdue, the state’s peak farm body has said.
Farm Fire Units are a common implement on many farms, usually consisting of a small truck, ute or trailer with permanently fixed water or fire management equipment that can be rapidly deployed when a fire broke out.
NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Deb Charlton said a trial scheme to register these units had been held in early 2024, but farmers were still waiting on the state government to roll out a registration solution for good.
“There’s a reason why we call these vehicles the mosquito fleet – they’re incredibly good at swarming to the scene of a bushfire and getting it under control as quickly as possible,” Mrs Charlton said.
“However, with the benefits of these units comes the risk that many of these vehicles are primarily used on farm and do not use public roads – so it’s not practical to register them.
“We’ve been calling for a logical, affordable and fit-for-purpose conditional registration for these vehicles for years now, but here we are, still waiting.”
With bushfire season now in full swing and high fuel loads present across many areas, Mrs Charlton said it was critical the state government took decisive action to ensure safety and peace of mind for first responders fighting fires this summer.
“All farmers need is a straightforward and reasonable way to get these units registered for this specific purpose, so they can use them legally and under the protection of third-party insurance,” Mrs Charlton said.
“Having the right tools to safely and quickly fight fires could mean the difference between a fire front that’s a few metres wide, or one that stretches for kilometres and puts rural communities at real risk.
“Everyone wants to be safe, not sorry, this summer, and we don’t want a repeat of bushfire seasons past.”
