Funding to remove cross-border barriers for forest firefighters

Training barriers for forest firefighters in the Green Triangle are set to be reduced under new projects funded through South Australia’s Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan.

The state government has committed three hundred and seventy thousand dollars to two initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s forestry workforce and fire response capability.

More than two hundred thousand dollars will support work to standardise firefighter training requirements across the South Australian–Victorian border.

Currently, differing standards on either side of the border limit workforce mobility and create unnecessary operational challenges during fire events.

The project will be delivered by ForestWorks, in partnership with fire agencies, industry groups and cross-border commissioners from both states.

It builds on a recent two-point-three-million-dollar upgrade to the region’s fire tower network, enhancing early detection and response.

A second project will help the forestry sector prepare for future changes driven by digitisation, automation and artificial intelligence, ensuring workers have skills suited to a modern industry.