Member for Bankstown Tony Stewart welcomed Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan today to officially open the new $3 million State Emergency Service (SES) Bankstown headquarters.
Mr Stewart and Mr Whan were joined by SES volunteers, Bankstown City Council representatives and members of the community at the new unit headquarters.
“This tremendous new development will cater for this growing unit’s needs now and well into the future,” Mr Stewart said.
“The Bankstown SES is a strong unit, with 51 volunteers and another 25 probationary members currently undergoing their induction training. This is a sign of the unit’s success and value to the local community.”
Mr Stewart said the new headquarters included a 120-seat training room, dedicated operations room and call centre, a 13-bay garage for the unit’s six vehicles and four floodboats and ample office accommodation.
“The facility’s vastly improved amenities and dedicated training facilities will allow the volunteers to train more efficiently and provide an even more effective response to emergencies such as storms and floods,” he said.
“It consolidates the unit’s previous three disparate sites into one centralised location, making it far easier for the volunteers to mobilise their vehicles, floodboats and vital equipment when they are responding to emergencies.
“This will increase their efficiency in helping and assisting our community in times of need.”
Mr Whan also presented a cheque for $3,000 to the SES Sydney Southern Region for flood rescue mannequins, which the region’s volunteers will use during important water training exercises.
“This is another vital training tool to help our dedicated volunteers prepare for worst case scenarios during flood events,” Mr Whan said.
“I am pleased to be able to provide funding for two flood rescue mannequins after receiving a letter from Tony Stewart highlighting the need for these important training aides for his local units.
Mr Whan paid special tribute to Bankstown Council for its financial contribution towards the new SES headquarters.
“The Bankstown Council has put an enormous amount of money in to the new headquarters for their local SES branch.
“I’d like to thank the Bankstown Council for that. It’s a huge testament to their commitment to SES and the volunteers who give up their time to serve this proud community.
Mr Whan also thanked the Bankstown volunteers for their tireless work and commitment to protecting the community, both in their own back yard and further afield around NSW and interstate.
“Members of this unit joined the responses to the South Coast storms last August, the Queensland storms last November and the Northern NSW floods in April and again in May. Others staffed public information lines,” he said.
“I know their efforts were appreciated by their colleagues and the community.
“Over the past months, as I have visited Northern NSW SES units involved in the flood response operations, I have witnessed first-hand the value of good facilities when volunteers are called to respond to emergencies.
“I’m sure this new headquarters will prove of great value to the Bankstown SES and the local community.”
SES Local Controller David Niven said the Bankstown Unit played a key role in the safety of the community, particularly in response to floods and storms.
“The new unit will boost our ability to respond to requests for assistance from the local community and to provide out of area assistance when required,” Mr Niven said.
Media contact: Garth Montgomery 0408 864 851
