Deploying National Parks and Wildlife Services helicopters to help in the flood crisis engulfing the north of NSW would only put lives at risk, State Emergency Services Commissioner Carlene York says.
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At NSW budget estimate hearings on Tuesday, Labor politicians asked why the NPWS fleet of five choppers had not been sent to help, saying the state needed "all hands on deck" to help flood-hit communities on the northern rivers.
Labor's Walt Secord said a proactive approach to the disaster would prompt the NPWS to send its fleet to the state's north, where 34,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes and another 310,000 warned to be ready to leave.
However, Ms York later told reporters in Sydney that flood rescues were highly technical, saying it was "naive to think" that any helicopter pilot could help in the emergency.
As the flood emergency worsens, Ms York is co-ordinating a multi-agency response that includes the ADF, NSW Fire and Rescue, police and ambulance.
"National Parks and Wildlife are not trained for the purposes of our rescues to go and rescue community members," she said.
"I'm ... not going to put the lives of helicopter-operators at risk as well as the community that may be under that helicopter."
Earlier at the hearings, NPWS officials conceded they did not know if the helicopter fleet was "sitting on the tarmac", before clarifying that at least two aircraft were in use in Kosciuszko National Park.
Labor MP Penny Sharpe told Environment Minister James Griffin that she was bemused about why NPWS helicopters were not helping in the north.
"Any and all resources available if requested, we'll do what we humanly can to make them available to support the efforts of flood recovery, and the issues that are unfolding there right now," the minister replied.
"It goes without saying that any opportunity for my particular portfolio to assist with the challenges the northern rivers community are facing, we will happily do so."
The hearing was also told the NPWS had 125 staff with firefighting training who could be sent to help in rescue efforts in the state's north.
Australian Associated Press
