More than $11 million has been earmarked in the Palaszczuk Government's latest Budget for the new fire station and HQ for the Toowoomba region's emergency services.
This investment is one of the single biggest outlays for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) in the Budget, with the Charlton-based regional agency headquarters to service the entire south-west of the State.
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said the project would support around 56 jobs and result in a new fire station at the Charlton emergency services precinct site.
"This work will complement the Tactical Training Facility we opened at the precinct last year and continues our push to future-proof the region," Mr Crawford said.
"This precinct has been located to best service the needs of current and future growth and boosts the service QFES provides to this community when responding to incidents such as road crashes, bushfires and house fires.
"We expect the new regional headquarters and station to be completed by mid-2020, with a Fire Communications Centre that will handle Triple Zero (000) calls from across south-west Queensland to also form part of the precinct."
The fire station will have four bays and house specialist units including technical rescue and hazmat vehicles.
Mr Crawford said the regional headquarters would accommodate personnel from the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).
"Having all services that form QFES at the one location will mean better responses during critical incidents," he said.
"It will ensure we keep pace with the growing needs of the community and help locals feel at ease knowing our fire and emergency services are ready to respond at a moment's notice."
