More than $1 billion to support emergency services and build community resilience
Published Date: 23 Jun 2015
Summary
Fire & Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service will receive $1.14 billion in 2015-16, including funding to equip emergency services workers with the tools they need to better protect communities.
Fire & Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service will receive $1.14 billion in 2015-16, including funding to equip emergency services workers with the tools they need to better protect communities.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said FRNSW would receive almost $700 million, plus capital funding including $18.4 million to build and refurbish fire stations in places such as Marsden Park, Mount Druitt and Oran Park in Sydney.
There are also plans for new fire stations at Abermain and Murrurundi in the Hunter, and Batlow, Gulgog, Henty, and Nyngan in western NSW, as well as funding to extend Wingham fire station in the Hunter and refurbish Wollongong fire station.
The Budget includes $17 million to replace FRNSW vehicles and $9.8 million for the RFS to pilot Large Air Tankers to help fight bushfires in remote areas this summer.
"This Budget builds on the Government's commitment to ensure emergency services workers have the resources they need to protect communities and help increase our resilience against the impact of fires, floods and other emergencies," Mr Elliott said.
There is more than $5.2 million for the RFS to develop a web portal for landowners to access important information about bushfire risk and mitigation, $2 million to develop a fire trail network across the state and $1 million to build four regionally based remote area volunteer training centres.
Other highlights include:
* $12.6 million as part of a four-year $46.3 million commitment for local government grants to support RFS infrastructure;
* $7.9 million as part of a four-year $31.8 million commitment to improve RFS public information systems, expand the Rapid Aerial Response capability and enhance bush fire behaviour analysis;
* $24.3 million as part of a Strategic Disaster Readiness Package to ensure the SES has the resources to help prevent and respond to storms; and
* $1.9 million over four years for the Flood Data Access Program to inform on floodplain risk management, emergency management and land use planning.
