Multi-million dollar investment in emergency management centres

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

An additional $31 million is being invested by the NSW Government for the construction of three new co-located Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and Fire Control Centres (FCC) at Moruya, Tumut and Hawkesbury.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the RFS identified a number of existing FCCs as sub-standard and in need of an urgent upgrade, following recommendations in the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring our emergency services and local communities have the infrastructure and resources needed for future emergencies right across our State,” Ms Cooke said.

“We’re investing $15 million in a new hub at Moruya, and $8 million each in facilities at Tumut and Hawkesbury to ensure our emergency services have purpose-built infrastructure in place to respond to future major emergencies.

“As we have seen throughout the horrific 2019-20 bush fire season, recent floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, our emergency services personnel do a remarkable job responding to threats to the community’s safety and wellbeing.”

Moruya, Tumut and Hawkesbury were identified as the next priority projects by the RFS, after construction began on previously funded facilities at Armidale and Mudgee.

RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers welcomed the development of the three new facilities at Moruya, Tumut and Hawkesbury, which will drive efficiencies in the response to future emergencies.

“When a major disaster strikes, it is critical that all the relevant agencies can come together to coordinate their activities to protect and assist the community,” he said.

“Our existing Fire Control Centres at Moruya, Tumut and Hawkesbury are long past their use-by dates. The development of a new centre answers one of the vital priorities identified in the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.”

The NSW Government and RFS are in the process of finalising suitable locations for the Moruya and Hawkesbury facilities, and will update the community shortly. A location for the Tumut facility was announced in December 2021.