A Nation Charred: Report on the inquiry into bushfires

EXH.160.0275
242 A NATION CHARRED
Recommendation 38
6.164 The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia
and the Australian Communications Authority, in conjunction with the
respective state and territory governments, ensure the survivability of
essential communication installations during fire incidents by strategic
fuel management around the assets.
Inadequate telephone infrastructure in bushfire prone areas
6.165 The recent bushfires caused major disruption to power distribution
and, consequently, telephone communications failed in some areas
when eight hour battery back up became depleted. This problem was
seen to be common to both the mobile telephone network and the
standard telephone system. Management of major bushfire situations
involve numerous agencies. The lack of interoperability and the
failure of radio systems referred to above, necessitate access to
effective telephone communication.
6.166 Through their inquiries Brian Parry and Associates found that very
few telephone or mobile phone facilities now have automatic
generators to cope with power outages, with full reliance on the
eight hour battery back up. Further advice is that if the power is
expected to be out longer than the eight hours, then a contractor is
required to deliver an emergency generator to the site to facilitate the
resumption of telephone service. The events of the past fire season
have proven this system to be totally inadequate.
Recommendation 39
6.167 The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth investigate, and
where necessary, require the urgent enhancement of the provision of
emergency power and telecommunications services for the purpose of
restoring essential services expeditiously in areas affected by fire or
other natural disaster and where necessary to place licence requirements
on telecommunication providers to do so.