Budget delivers vital resources for Emergency Services

Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said Fire & Rescue NSW would
receive $7.9 million for construction and refurbishment of fire stations across the
state and $14.8 million for the replacement of essential fire-fighting equipment.

The NSW Rural Fire Service will receive $14.2 million for a new state-of-the-art
headquarters, while the NSW State Emergency Service will receive additional capital
funding of $6.4 million for the relocation of its headquarters within the Illawarra. The
Budget also provides $11 million for projects to reduce drownings, with $6 million to
be invested in a new Water Safety Fund over the next three years.

“The fund will support projects that improve water safety in dangerous locations and
encourage ‘at risk’ population groups to develop their skills and take precautions
when engaging in hazardous activities such as rock fishing,” Mr Elliott said.

The government will introduce laws making life jackets mandatory for rock fishers in
high risk locations and has allocated $760,000 over two years to implement the
changes. Surf Life Saving NSW will receive $4 million over three years to increase
water safety on the state’s beaches, with the funds to be used for buying new
equipment, developing the skills of existing life savers and training new recruits.

Other Budget highlights include:

* $120 million for natural disaster response and recovery expenses; and
* $1 million to develop a business case for a complex to support coordination of
the emergency services agencies in emergency and counter-disaster
responses.

“Our emergency service workers are the heroes we rely upon during natural
disasters and this Budget delivers the resources they need to protect us against
fires, floods and other extreme weather events,” Mr Elliott said.