NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet promises NSW SES Lismore upgrades

A ramped-up SES presence promises to provide new jobs and better prepare the North Coast for future natural disasters, after severe local criticism of the volunteer-run service.

Lismore will have a ramped up SES presence and new incident control centre following the devastating 2022 floods where the service copped criticism and saw the effect of falling numbers.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Monday his government would dedicate $132.7 million towards SES infrastructure, resources and staffing, labelling it the “single biggest investment ever” into the emergency service.

It comes as SES cops criticism across the North Coast, with Tweed MP Geoff Provest telling a flood inquiry the service showed a lack of co-ordination, inadequate training and a lack of local knowledge in the recent flooding disaster.

At the time, Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said the Covid-19 vaccination requirement had been a “real blow” to local SES resourcing.

At the end of June last year there were just 333 SES staff and about 10,200 volunteer members, according to The Guardian.

In Lismore, many residents were critical of the emergency service saying the “tinnie army” had saved more lives than the SES.

At the NSW Flood Inquiry back in May, resident Christine Devine said the rescue response was “just dismal” with locals who “ended up saving everybody”.

The new funding includes more than $50 million to upgrade 18 critical priority unit facilities across NSW.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the budget boost would see the creation of two new zones through the division of both the Western and Northern Zones.

“The recent flooding has caused widespread devastation across the State, which is why it’s so important we ensure the SES has the resources it needs to respond to natural disasters of this significant scale,” Mr Perrottet said.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet with state MP Janelle Saffin and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke at a press conference in Lismore on Monday, June 14. Picture: Facebook

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the funding would provide a targeted and rapid response for the future.

“The new facilities and additional staff will help boost the SES’s capability to handle severe weather events particularly in flood prone areas like the Northern Rivers, and to ensure these communities are better prepared,” Mr Toole said.

“But this funding will also fortify the presence of the SES across NSW building on our previous track record of investment into this vital service run predominantly by the community, for the community.”

SES Commissioner Carlene York welcomed the news and said it would assist the agency and strengthen its responsiveness into the future.

“This investment in the SES enhances our support of our greatest asset, our volunteers, and enables us to provide the vital assistance NSW communities need to protect life and property around the State,” Commissioner York said.

 The $132.7 million Budget boost includes:

• $58.7 million to upgrade 18 critical priority Unit facilities across the State;
• $43 million to split the existing Northern Zone into two new zones, and split the existing Western Zone into two new zones;
• $11.7 million to establish Zone Headquarters in the two new zones with Level 3 Incident Control Centre capabilities;
• $18 million to upgrade existing Zone Headquarters to Level 3 Incident Control Centres; and
• $1.3 million to develop a Facility Strategy and complete further detailed business cases to address the remainder of the recommendations from the 2021 independent review.