A state-of-the-art $8.5 million Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre will be constructed in Narrabri to enhance emergency response and management of severe weather events in the state’s west.
The purpose-built centre will be constructed near the existing Narrabri RFS centre.
Narrabri Shire Council has provided the land to enable the new facility’s construction.
The new centre will include administration offices, an operations and logistics centre, training and storerooms, a three-bay brigade station and a helicopter landing area.
NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke and NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers were joined by civic leaders to announce Narrabri’s new emergency operations centre on Thursday morning.
“This will be a one-stop emergency hub giving our personnel the very best facilities for both day-to-day operations and during major emergencies,” Ms Cooke said.
Mr Toole said the government was continuing to invest in emergency services and was putting in fire control centres in pivotal locations across the state.
“This upgraded facility to coordinate the emergency response to fires and floods is crucial, particularly as we’ve seen with recent flooding across the state and the very real threat of grass fires this season,” Mr Toole said.
Commissioner Rogers said the RFS, working together with the NSW government and local councils, is providing its volunteers and staff with the facilities and equipment they need to carry out their roles safely and effectively.
“RFS members are dedicated to helping their communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Comm Rogers said.
“Once completed, this centre will ensure staff and brigade members of the Namoi Gwydir District have access to the latest technology and equipment to support emergency events, increase the level of safety and keep the community informed.”
Ms Cooke thanked council for working closely with the government towards this project.
“We really need that close relationship with council to do the best job we can, to protect communities and to make people safe at the end of the day,” she said.
Narrabri Shire mayor Ron Campbell said the facility was great news for the community.
“This $8.5 million facility … will mean we can defend our fire fronts.
“The facility will be extremely welcome in our community.”
The new centre will replace the existing facility, with Namoi/Gwydir operations co-located at the state-of-the-art facility. Construction on the new centre is expected to be completed in 2024.
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