Mount Riverview, New South Wales

Mount Riverview New South Wales
Mount Riverview
Population:	2,993 (2006 Census)[1]
Established:	1907
Postcode:	2774
Elevation:	270 m (886 ft)
Location:	70 km (43 mi) from Sydney
LGA:	City of Blue Mountains
State District:	Blue Mountains
Federal Division:	Macquarie
Localities around Mount Riverview: Warrimoo Hawkesbury Heights Cranebrook Warrimoo Mount Riverview Emu Heights Blaxland Blaxland Emu Heights

Mount Riverview is a town off the Great Western Highway about 2 km NE of Blaxland in the Lower Blue Mountains, New South Wales, 70 kilometres west of Sydney, Australia. At the 2006 census, Mount Riverview had a population of 2,993 people.^[1]

Mount Riverview borders the townships/suburbs of Warrimoo, Blaxland, Emu Heights and Yellow Rock.

Mount Riverview offers some stunning views over the Sydney area, including views of Centrepoint Tower some 55 kilometres away. It has a general store, two churches, a wood turning and woodcraft centre, a public school, tennis courts, a water tank, a Chinese restaurant, two parks and a local fire brigade under the jurisdiction of the Rural Fire Service.

Mount Riverview has very good access to the surrounding bush, as well as many lookouts with beautiful views of scenery. Walking tracks to Winmalee are also present. Olympic Parade and Elizabeth Rd. are the two main access points. Mount Riverview is part of the Federal Electoral Division of Macquarie (NSW).

Rural Fire Brigade

Category 1 tanker appliance, "Riverview 1"

The Mount Riverview Rural Fire Brigade is the local fire service for the township of Mount Riverview. Mount Riverview is a residential town within the Blue Mountains, 74 kilometres west of Sydney situated within the Blue Mountains National Park. The Mount Riverview Rural Fire Brigade is a Brigade member of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and was officially started on the Thursday 12 December 1968 under the title 'Mount Riverview Bush Fire Brigade' becoming fully operational in 1969. In 1997 the Brigade was renamed (following the introduction of the Rural Fires Act) to the Mount Riverview Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade.

Current information

At present, the brigade has 30 active, 17 life and a small group of ordinary members as well as 4 cadets [1]. The brigade operates under the administration of the Blue Mountains Rural Fire District operating from the Central East Region [2].

The brigades most notable call to action was during the Black Christmas bushfires [3]. The Black Christmas were bushfires that burnt for almost three weeks from 24 December 2001 across New South Wales, Australia. It was the longest continuous bushfire emergency in NSW history. More than 170 firefighters worked for several days to protect the tiny township of Mount Riverview as it was encircled by bushfires [4]. The brigade also supplied several crews and specialist equipment to assist during the 2003 Canberra bushfires which caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city.

The brigade is an active participant in the Rural Fire Service FireWise program. The program is run by RFS members trained in community education techniques and aims to create a fire-sensible population where residents can become involved with fire safety in their community [5].

Equipment & Training

The brigade, at present, is in possession of two fire fighting appliances as well as a personnel carrier.

The brigade's heaviest vehicle is known as 'Riverview 1', and is a Category 1 (Cat 1) tanker. It falls in the 'heavy appliance' category and is capable of holding 3300 litres of water.

The brigade also has a secondary appliance called 'Riverview 7' which is a dual cab Category 7 tanker, and a personnel carrier (callsign 'Riverview PC') which is capable of carrying up to 10 individuals including driver. The Brigade also maintains an 'air base operations support trailer' to assist with establishing and running air base operations during operations requiring helicopter support [6]. Several brigade members are specialliay trained members that form part of the Remote Area Firefighting Team (RAFT) program and are able to deploy at a moments notice across the State [7].

Local Sporting Team

Renegades Basketball team in action 2005

Mount Riverview is home to the Mt Riv Renegades basketball team as part of the Springwood Basketball Association competition. 2003 to present. Established in early 2003 the Mt Riv Renegades started as a small, unsupported and unorganised basketball team playing in the Springwood and Districts Basketball Association (SDBA) domestic competition at the Blaxland High School Sports Centre [8] [9]. Team members consist of players who have attended Mount Riverview Primary School or who currently reside, or who have previously resided in the Mount Riverview area.

Local Schools

There are five local schools around Mount Riverview. Public schools include:

• Mount Riverview primary
• Blaxland primary
• Blaxland East primary
• Blaxland High
• Wycliffe Christian School

Annual events

• Christmas Carols at the Watertank
• Mount Riverview Public School Bush Dance and Christmas Carols

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mount Riverview (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=SSC11695&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401. Retrieved 2 November 2009. 

See also

• Blue Mountains
• Wycliffe Christian School
• New South Wales Rural Fire Service
• Mt Riv Renegades

External links

• Mount Riverview Public School
• Mt Riv Renegades Basketball team
• Mt Riverview Rural Fire Brigade
• Mt. Riverview on Google Maps
• NSW Rural Fire Service
• Brigade Website
• Official Brigade photo website
• Mt Riverview Black Christmas 2001 bushfire photos

Coordinates: 33°44′02″S 150°37′52″E / 33.734°S 150.631°E / -33.734; 150.631