Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Speech from opening of new Avalon Fire Station, Avalon, 31 January 2007.
Good afternoon. As always Prime Minister, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Hutt City for this most important occasion - the opening of the new Avalon fire station.
I understand this is the third new fire station that you have opened in our city this morning, so I thank you for finding time in your busy Prime Ministerial schedule to do us the honour.
As I have just mentioned, today the city celebrates the opening of three new, modern-equipped fire stations situated in Seaview, Alicetown and, of course, here in Avalon.
This one is of particular significance as it will be the head office for the Fire Service’s operations not just in Hutt City, but the entire Hutt Valley area.
It gives me great comfort knowing that the location of this fire station, and the others in Seaview and Alicetown, means firefighters can respond to a fire in any part of the city within five minutes.
We welcome the opening of these new stations in our city. However, as impressive as they are, they’re only as good as those who work there.
Today, I want to this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our local firefighters, professionals and volunteers, for the dedication and bravery they show when carrying out their duties.
They regularly place themselves in harm’s way to put out fires and attend incidents like vehicle accidents, floods and emergency rescues, for which we as a community are very grateful.
For many years now, the Council’s Emergency Management staff and Rural Bush Fire Force have enjoyed a close working relationship with the Fire Service.
This was noted in a report to Government on the devastating floods of 2004, which cited the high level of co-operation between the Council, Fire Service and other agencies.
It’s a relationship we value highly, and we will do all we can to ensure it prospers.
Before finishing, I want to thank the Prime Minister and her government for recently tightening the regulations on the sale of fireworks.
Since becoming mayor I have called for changes to the law, sick of year after year hearing horrific stories of people and animals being badly injured, and property and vegetation being destroyed.
Last year I was successful in my remit calling for tighter fireworks controls being passed at the Local Government New Zealand AGM.
So I’m delighted the government has taken this action, as I’m sure is the Fire Service.
On that note, may I again welcome the Prime Minister to Hutt City and thank her for doing us the honour of officially opening this new station.
Thank you.