OneFortyOne Plantations To Upgrade Penola North Fire Tower

Forestry group OneFortyOne Plantations will upgrade the Penola North fire tower at an estimated cost of $100,000.

The Penola North tower is critical to bushfire detection in the plantations and rural areas, forming part of the fire tower network that covers the region.

A local engineering firm has been engaged to scope the works required to upgrade the tower, located north east of Nangwarry.

OneFortyOne Plantations Chief Executive Officer, Ms Linda Sewell, said the work would provide safer access and a more functional stand at the top the tower for local firefighters.

“This tower has been serving the community since the 1930s and I have been told the last upgrade occurred in the 1970’s,” she said.

“The upgrade will take place in a manner that ensures the tower can continue to be used throughout the fire season. This could mean work being delayed until next year.”

ForestrySA CEO Adrian Hatch said he welcomed the initiative.

“This is a significant contribution to our local fire detection network and will enable firefighters to operate in a safer, more secure environment,” he said.

“Fire surveillance is an important part of our firefighting strategy, enabling us to monitor fires and attend before they take hold. This upgrade will play an important part in enabling us to fulfil this role.”

OneFortyOne Plantations secured the harvesting rights of the South Australian Government’s Green Triangle plantation estate in 2012. Forestry management of the assets is currently being undertaken by ForestrySA.