Work to begin to deliver Fire Control Centres

The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) has awarded construction contracts for the development of the new Clarence Valley and Namoi Gwydir Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centres.

Hines Construction Pty Ltd will soon begin building both facilities following a competitive tender process, with the projects to be managed by NSW Public Works.

The Clarence Valley centre, currently in Ulmarra, will relocate next to Grafton Airport, providing better access to aerial firefighting resources during bush fires and other emergencies.

The new Namoi Gwydir facility will be built on a larger site opposite the existing Control Centre in Narrabri. It will include a new station for the Narrabri Headquarters Brigade and a helipad.

Both centres will feature state-of-the-art operational workspaces, training rooms and storage facilities, better supporting the needs of local volunteer firefighters.

The centres will provide local emergency services with the cutting-edge technology and resources they need to effectively manage a multi-agency response to hazards, including storms and floods.

The new facilities are being developed in response to the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry, which identified the need for upgraded emergency management infrastructure in the region.

Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:

“These new centres will ensure our firefighters and emergency services have the modern infrastructure they need to better protect lives and properties.

“The Government is pleased to support skilled employment opportunities that these projects will create in regional areas.”

“These centres strengthen our ability to respond to emergencies across the region, ensuring communities have the resources and coordinated support they need to face future challenges.”

“This work builds on wider investment in firefighting fleets and equipment across the emergency services to ensure resources are in place to prepare for future disasters.”

Commissioner of the NSW RFS, Rob Rogers said:

“These new centres are designed to support day-to-day operations and large-scale emergency management, ensuring our firefighters are better equipped to respond when disasters strike.

“These purpose-built facilities will enable our dedicated staff to provide even greater support to our volunteer members and the local communities they protect.”