Two new facilities to enhance emergency response in Northern NSW

The NSW Government is investing $21 million in new bush fire and emergency management facilities in Northern NSW.

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

Hines Construction Pty Ltd has been selected to build both centres following a competitive tender process.

The projects will be managed by NSW Public Works.

These facilities are being developed to improve emergency response capabilities in line with recommendations from the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

Improved access to emergency resources

The new Clarence Valley Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre will be relocated from Ulmarra to a site next to Grafton Airport.

This move is expected to improve access to aerial firefighting resources and enhance operational efficiency during bush fires and other emergencies.

In Narrabri, the Namoi Gwydir centre will be built on a larger site opposite the current control centre.

It will include a new station for the Narrabri Headquarters Brigade and a helipad to support emergency response operations.

Facilities designed to support emergency services

Both new centres will feature operational workspaces, training rooms and storage facilities to better support the needs of NSW RFS volunteers and other emergency services.

The facilities will be equipped with updated technology and resources to manage multi-agency responses to hazards such as storms and floods.

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.”

He added: “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.”

Investment in emergency response infrastructure

The development of these centres is part of broader efforts to enhance emergency management across the state.

NSW RFS Commissioner 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.”

Dib noted that the projects would also provide skilled employment opportunities in regional areas.

NSW RFS expands emergency infrastructure with new control centres: Summary

The NSW Government is investing $21 million in two new bush fire and emergency management centres in Northern NSW.

The NSW RFS has awarded contracts to Hines Construction Pty Ltd for the development of the Clarence Valley and Namoi Gwydir Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centres.

The Clarence Valley facility will be relocated next to Grafton Airport to improve access to aerial firefighting resources, while the Namoi Gwydir centre will be built in Narrabri with a new brigade station and a helipad.

These centres will include updated workspaces, training rooms and storage facilities to support local emergency services.

The projects align with the recommendations of the 2020 NSW Bushfire Inquiry and aim to enhance regional emergency response capabilities.