A huge firefighting aircraft leased by the Queensland Government has left the country after helping to quell fires raging on K’gari Fraser Island, as authorities declare the bushfire season officially over.
The large air tanker (LAT) bomber 141 and its Canadian crew have been based at Bundaberg Airport since the end of August, as part of a $15-million, five-year State Government firefighting plan.
Under the plan, each year firefighting aircraft companies can tender for the contract to cover the Queensland bushfire season, which is at its worst from September to November.
It is not known how much of the $15 million Canada’s Conair received after successfully tendering for the 2020 contract.
The contract was due to end on November 23, but the State Government extended it until December 19 following the bushfire emergency on K’gari Fraser Island.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) spokesperson said weather patterns indicated the bushfire season was over, and that wet weather associated with an active La Nina would continue well into January.
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