Emergency services workers and volunteers across regional NSW will be better equipped to continue their dedicated service ahead of the upcoming bushfire season following the official opening of four new fire stations, the handover of four new fire trucks, and a boost for paid positions to fast-track hazard reduction.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson and NSW RFS Assistant Commissioner Peter McKechnie met with members of the Namoi River Brigade to officially open two new stations at Upper Manilla and Namoi River, made possible thanks to a nearly half a million dollar investment by the NSW Government.
“We thank our firefighters for their unwavering efforts over what has been a difficult 12 months in the service. We are committed to providing our firefighters with the best possible equipment and amenities so they can get on with the job they do best – protecting the irreplaceable,” Mr Elliott said.
Mr Elliott and Mr Anderson also joined Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter today to open the new $5 million South Tamworth Fire Station and Zone Office.
Mr Elliott said the new station was a significant investment in the Tamworth community that will see the local response to fires and other emergencies improve.
This comes after, only yesterday, Mr Elliott joined Sam Farraway MLC and Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Commissioner Paul Baxter to officially open the new $2.05 million Parkes Fire Station.
“The NSW Government has invested over $14 million in new and upgraded fire stations across the state, and it’s great to have the opportunity to tour regional NSW over the last couple of days to deliver four new stations to local communities,” Mr Elliott said.
Fourteen new State Mitigation crew positions were also announced at Tamworth, Glen Innes, Moree Plains and Armidale to help fast track hazard reduction burns and build bushfire resilience across regional communities.
“These new roles, part of the recent $10.7 million state-wide investment in bushfire preparedness and regional jobs, will support and supplement volunteers and fast-track hazard reduction in areas that need it most,” Mr Elliott said.
The Garah, Wallah and Baan Baa communities are also set to benefit from three new Category 1 fire tankers worth nearly $350,000 each, as part of the NSW Government’s $34.4 million investment in upgrading the RFS firefighting fleet.
The recent investments in the RFS’s bushfire response capability come on top of a record $1.7 billion budget for emergency services in NSW.
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