Tathra: Rural Fire Service proposes $3m fire shed for Bega Valley town

A south coast town, recently battered by catastrophic blazes, could soon be home to a multimillion-dollar fire shed. See the plans here.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Rural Fire Service shed.

A multimillion-door firefighting facility could soon be built in a south coast town that has been battered by blazes in recent years, with dozens of homes lost to the flames.

Bushfires hit Tathra in March 2018, destroying 65 homes and damaging 39 more in the coastal town south of Bega.

The Black Summer bushfires struck the town of 1600 people just one year later, followed by the Bega and Bermagui bushfires of late 2023.

The Rural Fire Service has now submitted a $3m development application to construct a new fire shed at Thornhill Rd, Jellat Jellat in Tathra, replacing the smaller, old shed in the same location.

Margaret Wilson, who lived in Tathra at the time of the 2018 fires, said there would have been less destruction if the town had a more modern fire shed with room for multiple trucks.

The proposed shed would be constructed on the 122-hectare block.

“This development needs to be approved,” she told this masthead.

“It was the scariest moment in my life and having a larger fire shed would have made all the difference.”

An artist’s impression of the proposed Rural Fire Service shed.

The development application – currently sitting on public exhibition with the Bega Valley Council – proposes a $3m firefighting facility, including sheds, offices and bays to park three fire trucks.

The proposal also includes the removal of trees and the existing Rural Fire Service structure on the 122-hectare block, to make way for the facility.

Development documents state it would also include the construction of pathways, car parking and roads to the shed.

Ms Wilson said the development would be welcomed by the entire Tathra community.

“I believe the closest fire shed is in Bega, which is a bit away, so if something like a house fire happened in Tathra, it will be much nicer having a large shed with multiple trucks right here,” she said.

The proposal comes just days a new Rural Fire Service shed was approved to the north, in Manyana.

Major expansions to the existing Lake Conjola shed have also been given the green light.

The proposed Tathra fire shed will remain on public exhibition until August 20.

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