Grafton’s new $8.5m Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre hub to be built by June 2024

A much-needed new emergency hub will take shape in Grafton – considered a high fire risk area – to better respond to situations threatening lives and property. Here’s when it’s due to be finished.

Plans are underway to build a new $8.5 million emergency hub in Grafton – considered a high fire risk area – to better respond to situations threatening lives and property.

It’s expected the new Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre on a site at Clarence Valley Regional Airport will be completed by June 2024.

The state government funded facility is in the pre-development stage with design work in progress.

Rural Fire Service Superintendent Stuart Watts was excited to see the centre take shape.

The Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre in Ulmarra. Picture: Terry Deefholts

Rural Fire Service Superintendent Stuart Watts. Picture: Jenna Thompson

Mr Watts, district manager for Clarence Valley, said the hub will provide be a “one stop shop for better co-ordination of emergencies” – particularly crucial in the wake of worrying natural disasters like bushfires and widespread flooding in northern NSW.

“The state-of-the-art equipment means a better way of communicating with other agencies outside of the Clarence Valley,” Supt Watts said.

“Apart from being a fire control centre, it’s also an emergency operations centre, which is a bigger operation.

“We will have a better way of co-ordinating our resources and our emergency service partners in combating any sort of emergency that may visit the Clarence Valley again.”

The new hub will be one of eight new fire control centres built in high fire risk areas across NSW as part of a $71 million plan.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis (right) unveiled the centre’s location with Nationals’ candidate for Clarence Richie Williamson and Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke.

Rural Fire Service Acting Deputy Commissioner Kelly Quandt recently described the existing Fire Control Centre at Ulmarra as no longer fit-for-purpose.

“When a major disaster strikes, it is critical all the relevant agencies can come together to co-ordinate their activities to protect and assist the community,” she said.

“The new centre will ensure the more than 1100 volunteers from brigades across the RFS’s Clarence Valley District have access to the latest technology and equipment to support their work.”

The centre will include an operations and logistics centre, administration offices, training areas, vehicle bays and general storage space.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis said the region was no stranger to natural disasters.

He spoke of the ferocious blazes early in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, as well as last year’s flooding, and the devastating impact on lives, livelihoods and the environment.

“Some of our State’s most experienced emergency service volunteers and staff are based in our community and they deserve the very best facilities and resources, which I’m proud the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“I want to thank Clarence Valley Council who have worked with the RFS to identify the best potential site for develop this state-of-the-art facility.”