Eurobodalla Emergency Services Precinct construction kicks off
The sod has officially been turned for a major emergency service precinct on the fire-battered NSW South Coast, with the multimillion-dollar centre set to make the regional area safer in future fire storms.
The South Coast News
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NSW South Coast Black Summer victims battered by devastating blazes have been given a lifeline, with construction of a major emergency service precinct officially kicking off.
The $25m Eurobodalla Emergency Service Precinct was first promised by the federal and state governments three years ago, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, federal Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips and state member for Bega, Michael Holland, meeting in Moruya on January 27, 2022, to announce the joint federal and state project funding.
Now – three years after the announcement – Ms Phillips, Dr Holland, Eurobodalla mayor Mathew Hatcher, Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and RFS commissioner Rob Rogers met at the facility site outside Moruya to officially kick off construction.
Mr Rogers said the facility would house the RFS, SES, Fire and Rescue and Marine Rescue, with hopes other emergency services could join in the future.
Along with command rooms for the emergency services, the facility will also feature training rooms, administration areas and a three-bay fire station.
Mr Rogers said all emergency services co-ordinating together under one roof would ensure a faster response to local emergencies.
“This new precinct will ensure our volunteers and staff have the tools they need to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure during emergencies for years to come,” he said.
Ms Phillips said the facility was an enormous upgrade to where local emergency services were forced to work from during the Black Summer bushfires.
“I remember this small room with extension cords everywhere and a few tubs around,” she said.
“It wasn’t right.”
Ms Phillips said the federal funding of $5m to work alongside state funding of $20m would allow the facility to be top of the line.
The sod turning comes mere months after Liberal candidate for Gilmore, Andrew Constance, slammed the government on the whereabouts of the facility.
Mr Constance, who fought to save his Malua Bay home during the Black Summer bushfires, said the facility should have been a priority for the government, given how affected the Eurobodalla community was during the devastating fires.
“I will absolutely spearhead this if elected,” he said.
“We need it, and [Labor] know that, hence why they announced it, but now they just need to do it.”
Eurobodalla mayor Mathew Hatcher said he was thrilled the project was finally getting on the way.
“It has taken a long time to get here, but it is finally happening,” he said.
“We all lived through the fires and this facility is something that council has been fighting to have built for around 10 years.
“This is going to make a huge difference when fighting natural disasters in the area.”
Minister Dib said the facility was expected to open its doors in 2027.
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