Construction is progressing on the new NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Murwillumbah Unit, with the $6.2 million purpose-built facility taking shape ahead of its expected completion in early 2027.
The new facility on Old Lismore Road will provide local NSW SES volunteers with a modern base to support communities across the Northern Rivers and Tweed during floods, storms and other emergencies.
The NSW Government is investing $3.85 million towards the new Murwillumbah Unit, alongside a $2.35 million contribution from Tweed Shire Council.
The new facility will replace the existing Murwillumbah Unit building, which volunteers have outgrown and no longer meets the operational needs of the unit.
Once complete, the purpose-built facility will include expanded garage bays, improved training areas, dedicated operational rooms, upgraded amenities and remotely accessible delivery bays.
The new building will provide volunteers with more space to train, prepare and respond, while improving the unit's capacity to support the community during severe weather and flooding.
In the past three years, the Murwillumbah Unit has responded to close to 850 incidents, mainly due to storms and flooding in the local community.
Disaster response and recovery operations have also been bolstered through the delivery of a new specialised High Clearance Vehicle (HCV) based in Murwillumbah.
HCV vehicles have been delivered to flood and storm hotspots across the state and will be deployed across the region during severe weather events.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
"Our investment in the SES underscores our commitment to ensuring NSW communities have safe, reliable and high-performing equipment and facilities.
"It is fantastic to see construction progressing on this important project and to see firsthand what the new facility will deliver for NSW SES volunteers and the Murwillumbah community.
"Our SES volunteers give so much to their communities, particularly during the floods and severe weather events the Northern Rivers has experienced in recent years, and these facilities will support them to continue to do their jobs safely and effectively.
"This new unit will provide volunteers with the modern training, operational and equipment spaces they need to respond when their community needs them most."
Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:
"Communities across the Northern Rivers know just how important our NSW SES volunteers are when severe weather strikes, and this new facility is an important investment in our region's emergency response capability.
"The new Murwillumbah Unit will give our local volunteers a fit-for-purpose home base, with the space and facilities they need to train, prepare equipment and coordinate operations.
"This is about making sure the people who are there for our community in times of emergency have the infrastructure they need behind them."
NSW SES acting Commissioner Daniel Austin said:
"Our Murwillumbah volunteers play a critical role in protecting the local community, responding to floods, storms and a range of other emergencies.
"This new facility will make a significant difference to our members, providing expanded vehicle and equipment space, dedicated operational areas and better facilities for training.
"We are grateful for the investment from the NSW Government and Tweed Shire Council and look forward to seeing our volunteers operating from their new home."
Tweed Shire Council Mayor Reece Byrnes said:
"Having worked with many members of the Murwillumbah SES unit, I fully understand how much this new facility will mean to all the volunteers.
"Their tireless efforts during the course of natural disasters, such as our floods of 2017 and 2022, are deeply appreciated by our community, and this new, modern home base, will ensure their service and dedication is fully recognised.
"I also hope that it may encourage more members of our community to consider volunteering for the SES which does such an amazing job in times of crisis."
