The DC-10 is too large for the urban interface. The problem was that the amount of "liquid" that the aircraft dropped was dangerous to persons on the ground and also to structures. At what point do you determine to destroy something to save something?
Fires, Aerial assets are a great tool, especially if you can get them there quick enough. Western Australia has the right idea with the response to the fire. There are area's where as soon as a 000 call is made the helicopters or At802/602 are mobilised. NSW is a different story and VIC is also again a different story where you have to go through managers etc to get the aircraft mobilised.
It is great to see some CV580's that not only can drop retardant but also water. Also interesting to note the extra S64 that is going to be deployed.
So there will be 3 x S64's, 2 x S61's, 2 x CV580's and the rest made up of AT502,602,802, B212, B412, B206, AS350 etc
As for the Trackers, it would cost a lot of money to get them up to scratch, then you have maintenance, crew's etc, it ends up being cheaper per year to bring in aircraft from overseas with full crew and maintenance support. ie it cost the government 10mill to have the 2 CV580's here as it would cost say 15 mill a year to have maintenance, crew, insurance etc for 2 trackers.
It is true that you need the ground crews to back up the aircraft dropping water or it is pointless. Here is a good link so everyone understands
http://www.bushfirecrc.com/research/...-Australia.pdf