The Territory Labor Government is investing in the rural area and creating jobs with local firm Ashford Group Architects (AGA) awarded the $260,000 task of designing a new Bushfires NT headquarters at Acacia Hills.
The new HQ is a significant investment in the rural area, where demand for services particularly asset protection continues to increase as the population grows. The new facility is expected to begin construction at the start of the 2019 Dry Season and support 30 local jobs.
The new headquarters will combine training, volunteer information and support, incident control and community education and information. The Acacia Hills HQ will be located adjacent to the WWII Hughes airstrip that currently serves as a forward base for fixed-wing firefighting aircraft when responding to significant fires in the rural area.
This years Budget boost of $2 million has also provided opportunities to upgrade services for the volunteer fire brigades, including $210,000 for two new Grass Fire Units one each for the Elizabeth Valley and Berry Springs volunteer bushfire brigades have been provided earlier today to support the vital work the volunteers do in keeping Territorians safe.
These units are capable of safely transporting volunteer firefighters to the fire ground and equipped to provide firefighting suppression activities. These two new Grass Fire Units and the construction of a new Acacia Hills HQ will improve safety and accessibility, and strengthen relationships with rural landholders, volunteers and service providers.
Attached photographs:
- Berry Springs Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain George Low (left), Bushfires NT Chief Executive Collene Bremner and Elizabeth Valley Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain Dianne Tynan (right) with the new Grass Fire Units they have received from the NT Government. The block of land in the background is the site where the new Bushfires NT Headquarters will be built next year.
- The new Bushfires NT Headquarters will be built on this block on the corner of Townend Road and the Stuart Highway at Acacia Hills. The block is a long-narrow one that has a Stuart Highway frontage.
- Elizabeth Valley Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain Dianne Tynan with the old EV2 and the new EV2. The old truck was stolen earlier this year and then recovered by NT Police.
As noted by the Acting Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Lauren Moss:
The Territory Labor Governments absolute priority is to create local jobs.
The construction of a new Bushfires NT headquarters at Acacia Hills will support 30 local jobs and the increase in demand for services as the population grows in the rural area.
We all know Bushfires NT staff and volunteers do a great job keeping our community safe. Bushfires NT volunteers provide the wildfire response for more than 6000 people in the NT rural area. The additional equipment and Acacia Hills HQ recognise and support their important contributions.
As noted by Berry Springs Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain, George Low:
Some of the old vehicles are 16 to 18 years old, so the reliability of these new vehicles takes a lot of pressure off the brigades financially.
Its also about pride, the pride that the brigades can have after being provided with new vehicles.
And I think that when the community see these new vehicles they will really get an idea of what the NT Government is doing for Bushfires NT and the brigades at the moment.
As noted by Elizabeth Valley Volunteer Bushfire Brigade Captain, Dianne Tynan:
This vehicle is replacing one that is about 12 years old and was recently stolen then recovered and it is getting to the stage where it needs more maintenance so, the new vehicle will be very welcome at the brigade.
This is the first brand spanking new vehicle the brigade has ever received so, to get one is simply fantastic.
