Palmerston’s new regional emergency centre ready for action

It’s been a long-time coming but with the cyclone season bearing down, the Top End has a new emergency centre. Here’s how it will serve Territorians.

The Top End’s new $25m emergency complex has opened at its brand new home in Howard Springs.

The new facility in three main structures includes a new regional fire centre, new emergency services centre and emergency response cache.

The centre has increased capacity for expanded crew numbers, operations and meeting rooms, study spaces, single-person bedrooms, communication tower, a training area, breathing apparatus room, workshop, gymnasium and kitchen area.

On a tour of the new premises, NT Fire Chief Mark Spain said the new facility acknowledged the expansion of Palmerston and the Rural area.

NT Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain checks out the gym at the new emergency complex at Howard Springs. Picture: Camden Smith

“Planning has been going for a number of years and we recognise the area’s expansion over recent years,” he said.

“We’ve got Coolalinga with four-storey apartments there, we’ve got urban growth into Palmerston, two light industrial areas, high-rises and shopping centres.

“It’s built for purpose and it’s built for the future. It’s not an add on and we’ll be able to grow as the environment calls for it.”

He said the new complex would service up to 60,000 residents in the Palmerston and Rural.

”It’s got a fairly big footprint and that’s what we planned for. It’s a real credit for the Government to invest in really good infrastructure.

“What they’ve done is really provide a first class service for us which means we can provide a first class service for the community.”

The gym, kitchen facilities and study area are state of the art and the single person bedrooms are a welcome change from his early years in the fire service.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler and Fire and Emergency Services Minister Kate Worden at the new emergency complex at Howard Springs

“When I first joined we had six or seven fireys living in one dorm with all the mattresses and snorers in there when it was all same sex back in those days.

“We’re a more diverse workforce now and we’re certainly trying to move towards diversity similar to community itself.”

Three years in the making, construction was hampered by Covid-19 and procurement issues.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said a site was originally chosen near Palmerston Hospital.

It has extra significance with the Government planning on building up to 500 new homes nearby at Holtze and Kowandi.

“Originally we were looking at site near the hospital but the fireys said they needed a 10-15 minute response time to fires so they suggested this site – the old Buslink Vevo site during the Inpex construction – and that was the decision to move here,” she said.

“The build was going to be just around the fire station then further discussions began about bringing emergency services here as well and bringing it all to one spot, very central to the Rural Area and Palmerston as well.”

She praised local company CNR construction for the quality of work.

“CNR had done some smaller projects like the Katherine fire station and other smaller fire station builds so this was a step up for them. They started the project and ran into Covid which was hard work.

NT Chief Fire Officer Mark Spain goes kitchen-side at the new emergency complex at Howard Springs

“We were down here quite regularly and it was about workers being sick, trying to get supplies in and that delayed things slightly but we ended up with a beautiful build. A great Territory company that did a really good job.”

About 200 workers were involved in construction.

Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Kate Worden said the new facility would improve responsiveness.

“It’s in a much better spot than it was previously but it’s also contemporary, which is the big thing with builds like this,” she said.

“Transition through the washing areas, the mens and women's facilities, the overnight facilities it’s all well transitioned which improves response times.”

The existing Palmerston fire station on Emery Avenue is being retained.