Soorley is The Weakest Link

Should take the walk of shame!

What happens when you can't find hydrants?

Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Jim Soorley showed his true colours on Wednesday 17th April by saying that firefighters did nothing but '...spend all day playing cards and in the gym so they can get half naked for calendars at Christmas.'

This outrageous and ill-informed attack on firefighters was Cr Soorley's only response to questions as to why his administration continues to refuse to install reflectorised 'cat's eyes' hydrant markers. 

Cr Soorley has been continually pressured by the United Firefighters Union to install the cat's eye markers, in line with the progressive move by a number of other Queensland councils.  Cr Soorley on radio on 17 April maintained that the installation of the cats eyes would cost $3m, a far cry from the $2m he quoted in a recent Council debate.  Both amounts are far removed from his own council's estimate given at a meeting with Senior officials of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, around $850,000.  The $850,000 to install the cats eyes could be funded from the $900,000 that Cr Soorley's administration gets paid each year for collecting the fire levy on behalf of the State Government.  

Cr Soorley claims that the $900,000 is spent on collecting the levy.  $900,000 to transfer money from one account to another?  Who are you trying to kid, Cr Soorley?

If other progressive Councils throughout Queensland can have the foresight to install a hydrant marking system that is the best available,  why can't Brisbane City Council?  Cr Soorley simply says 'hopefully we've made it clear we won't be putting them on' (ABC radio 24 April).

Cr Soorley relies upon a CD based system that he continues to preach to anyone who will listen to his ill-informed comments that '...they now have the ability, while they're going to a fire, to call up all the hydrants around the fire and know the water pressure of all those hydrants.'  Good idea, Jim, apart from one problem.  There's nothing in the trucks to read a CD!  Not only that, the CD is inaccurate.  But Jim says '...if it's inaccurate I guess Fire Services has some responsibility.'  Oh, come on Jim!  YOU and YOUR COUNCIL have a legislative responsibility to maintain accurate records of YOUR water supply system.  Don't blame the Fire Service or firefighters for the inability of you and your administration to live up to your legislative requirements.

It is very strange indeed that all failings are the fault of someone else, and never of Cr Soorley and his administration.  It seems (from Cr Soorley's comments) that no-one apart from Cr Soorley is competent in what they do.

But probably the best thing for firefighters in Brisbane to hear is Cr Soorley promising that 'We are going to spend some money in this year's budget going around making sure that our jursidiction, the hydrants, are maintained.' (Radio 4BC 17 April 7.41am).  I can only hope that 'some' money is sufficient to properly maintain the hydrant system (but I seriously doubt it).  It is also a welcome admission by the Lord Mayor that the maintenance of fire hydrants IS the responsibility of the Council and not that of the Fire and Rescue Service, even after his claims to the contrary.

The propensity for Cr Soorley to avoid addressing the issue and simply attacking the messenger was highlighted on the morning of 17 April by his cowardly attack on firefighters, as well as his attack on the ABC radio presenter.  The next few days revealed how grossly out of touch Cr Soorley is with community feeling.  His obstinate refusal to apologise, combined with his arrogant view that '...i've given you the best publicity you'll ever get...' (ABC Radio 24 April 10.41am) shows the contempt he holds firefighters in.

Nevertheless, Cr Soorley in the misguided views he expressed, failed to address the questions put to him.  Questions we ask again.  

LORD MAYOR, WHY WILL YOUR COUNCIL NOT INSTALL THE REFLECTORISED HYDRANT MARKER SYSTEM THAT IS RECOGNISED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AT THE MOST EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR FIRE HYDRANT IDENTIFICATION?

HOW MANY MORE HOUSES IN YOUR JURISDICTION NEED TO BURN DOWN WHILE FIREFIGHTERS TRY TO LOCATE FIRE HYDRANTS?

WHY WILL YOU NOT AGREE TO PROGRESS YOUR COUNCIL FROM ONE OF THE WORST IN QUEENSLAND FOR HYDRANT IDENTIFICATION?

Perhaps these questions needs to also be asked of prospective Councillors prior to the next Local Government elections.

In the interim - Cr Soorley, you are the weakest link...Goodbye.

Mark Walker - State Secretary