Grumman Trackers
A great pity that former leaders and legislators did not see the potential of converting the ex-RAN Trackers to the fire-fighting role. They were unfortunately left to rot, although I understand that some were eventually sold and are now stored at Sale.
CL-215's and 415's are not appropriate in Australia where we lack the ready water supply that large freshwater lakes in North America offer. Likewise DC-10's or B-747's would be restricted to capital city airports.
A fleet of Trackers, perhaps some Convair 580's and strategically located Air Tractor 802's are the best option. The NSCA pioneered the use of North American firebombing aircraft in the southern summer, when they would otherwise sit idle, but unfortunately this plan lost momentum with the demise of the NSCA.
Whilst the Skycranes make for good TV news, they are not suited to large scale fires. Helicopters do an excellent job of delivering very accurate drops on small scale fires in narrow valleys or close to houses, but lack the speed and payload to effectively control the type of fires we are seeing in Victoria at the moment.
Likewise water is not the only answer. In the extreme heat that Victoria has recently experienced, re-ignition is a problem when water alone is used to fight fires.
Hopefully the forthcoming inquiry into this terrible disaster will see this issue revisited, and both state and federal governments will investigate some of the options suggested above.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.