A brand new forum, established by Transport for NSW (Transport) and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), will seek to ensure that fire safety expertise is incorporated much earlier into the infrastructure planning and delivery process, for major projects across the state.
Bringing together key executives from both agencies, the fire collaboration forum is designed to incorporate FRNSW knowledge as feedback, right from the start, into major project planning.
An early dividend of Transport’s new statewide operating model, the forum is based on the crucial understanding that FRNSW can offer unparalleled expertise in assessing fire safety designs on infrastructure projects – but is not the body to formally approve those designs.
The forum aims to give FRNSW an opportunity to have visibility of the TfNSW infrastructure pipeline and provide early advice during the planning phase, with the goal of addressing issues before detailed designs take place.
The new fire collaboration forum aims to elevate engagements on infrastructure projects to be more strategic, proactive and upfront in the asset lifecycle; provide a pathway for fire engineering challenges to be assessed by accountable executives; and demonstrate partnership between NSW Government agencies working for the greater good of the public.
Transport’s ED for Asset Management, John Hardwick said insights from FRNSW during project planning and scoping would help to improve safety for commuters and provide improved resilience against emergencies.
“Taking insights from FRNSW into account during project planning and scoping will result in improved safety for customers and passengers and improved resilience against emergencies, as the fire safety provisions will enable an effective emergency response from FRNSW,” he said.
“Both parties recognise that projects need to comply to Transport for NSW standards and Transport itself is responsible for that – but a forum like this allows us to make risk- based decisions that take into account FRNSW’s feedback directly from the source.”
Fire and Rescue NSW Assistant Commissioner, Brendan Cox, said the safety of commuters and firefighters is of “extremely important” to the FRNSW.
“I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate closely with Transport for NSW to ensure that the NSW State Government delivers the safest infrastructure projects,” he said.
.jpg)
.JPG)
