Disaster response, planning and preparedness efforts are being boosted for communities across the state, as the NSW Government delivers upgraded NSW State Emergency Service (SES) headquarters, through a $27 million investment.
The projects are part of a wider investment to bolster flood and storm response, enhancing overall fleet assets and upgrading facilities to support our volunteers and communities.
Five new facilities, in key risk areas, will provide regional NSW SES teams with modern, fit-for-purpose bases so they can continue to deliver the highest level of service to communities during significant weather events.
The facilities will each include a Level 3 Incident Control Centre to coordinate and respond to large scale emergencies, improving the capability of the NSW SES to respond to more frequent and more intense natural disasters.
Construction is well underway on a multi-million-dollar NSW SES Southern Zone headquarters at Wagga Wagga, while work on expanded facilities in Goulburn for South Eastern Zone and at 7 Lancaster Drive, Goonellabah, for the North Eastern Zone is about to start.
NSW SES says construction will start late April (pending weather delays), and take approximately six months. The building is prefabricated offsite and brought in on cranes and dropped into place.
The facility will be double the size of the existing building, with another level added on top to form a Level 3 Incident Control Centre capable of seating more than 50 people. The exterior shell of the existing lower level will remain in place, but all internal walls and furnishings will be removed and rebuilt.
Furniture and equipment removed from the HQ will be repurposed at NSW SES Units across the state, and not taken to landfill.
State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the NSW SES North Eastern Zone headquarters was a well deserved upgrade for our local SES family, made up largely of volunteers but with some paid staff.
“Having more modern facilities will make their job of keeping us safe easier to do,” Ms Saffin said.
In Newcastle, the Northern Zone headquarters will be relocated to the Black Hill Industrial Estate in Beresfield, and construction of a significantly larger and more functional state-of-the-art headquarters will begin this year.
Construction on the brand-new Western Zone headquarters at Dubbo is nearing completion, as staff prepare to begin operating from the new purpose-built facility.
Flood rescue coordination, media rooms, briefing spaces and an open plan operation room with significantly increased capacity will ensure information, rescue taskings, logistics and communications are centrally coordinated and tasked to enhance public safety and disaster response.
The Minns Labor Government is investing over $2.2 billion in emergency services this year, uplifting capability and boosting resources across NSW.
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib:
“Some of the current facilities were built in the 80s and 90s at a time when teams were much smaller and disaster management and responses were very different.
“Our SES volunteers continue to go above and beyond for their communities, and they need to grow, plan and train to rapidly respond to the next disaster.
“These new facilities will give our dedicated personnel the facilities they need to manage emergencies into the future as part of their important work to keep the community safe.”
Quote attributable to NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM:
“The new zone headquarters will help our teams face the challenges of the future and provide a space they can grow into for decades to come as they continue to expand capabilities and membership.
“I look forward to seeing these purpose-built headquarters come to life and provide our dedicated staff members and volunteers with the spaces they need to serve communities at the highest level.
“These new facilities will improve the operational response and management of major incidents at a regional level, close to where the disaster is unfolding.”
