Image Caption: Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne, with the Hills SES Unit.
A new headquarters for The Hills State Emergency Service (SES) Unit is a step closer, with Council earmarking a site at Balmoral Road Reserve, Kellyville for the future facility.
The nominated site is currently a vacant open space located next to Field 2 fronting Balmoral Road.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said the decision was not confirmation that the new HQ would be built there, and that Council would be seeking the views of the community on its suitability as a location.
"The Hills SES Unit plays a vital role in protecting our community, responding to storms, floods and other emergencies throughout the year," Mayor Byrne said.
"They have long outgrown their current facility at Balcombe Heights Estate, and a new headquarters is essential for supporting the long-term operations of our frontline workers to help meet the demand of our booming population.
"They go above and beyond and having a purpose-built modern facility benefits not only SES volunteers but our entire community.
"Council has worked closely with the SES to identify a potential location, and Balmoral Road Reserve is the preferred site for a few reasons. It's a central, flat location close to Windsor and Old Windsor roads.
"The proposed headquarters is expected to have a footprint of approximately 1,600 to 1,700 square metres, providing the space needed to support emergency response operations, training and future growth of the Unit.
"The site is also within the Bella Vista-Kellyville precinct, which is expected to be home to an additional 23,200 people under the Government's Transport Oriented Development program.
"As our community continues to grow, it is important that residents have the opportunity to provide feedback on significant infrastructure proposals such as this one.
"This consultation will help Council understand community views while planning for the emergency service infrastructure needed to support our growing population.
"Our SES volunteers give countless hours of their time to protect our community, often in challenging and dangerous situations. It's critical that that they have access to the facility and resources they need."
Supported by 169 active volunteers, The Hills SES Unit responds to an average of 740 incidents each year and provides critical flood, storm and emergency response services.
Next steps for the project include the planning and detailed design phase, which involves amending the site's Master Plan. Residents will be given the opportunity to provide their feedback via community consultation in the coming months.
