Jacquie Petrusma,Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management
Emergency Services in Tasmania will be better able to respond to critical incidents, with a new $6.5 million all-hazards state emergency response facility officially opening today as part of the Government’s plan to keep Tasmanians safe.
The new State Emergency Services Operations Centre provides for whole of Government co-ordination and management for the preparation, response and recovery phases associated with major statewide emergency events.
This includes the preparation, response and recovery phases associated with major emergency events impacting the state, including bushfires, pandemics, floods, and terrorism incidents.
It provides a platform of operations to support our police, firefighters and state emergency service.
Whilst we are officially opening the Centre today, it has already been in constant use over the last bushfire season by our emergency response agencies and also during the recent severe weather event last month.
The Centre is also the base for the State Air Desk to coordinate aerial response to bushfires.
A total of $2.5 million has been spent on high-end technology equipment, to better enable our emergency services to undertake their roles and to protect the community.
Investing in a development like this clearly supports our emergency services, but it has also generated significant employment and other benefits for local Tasmanians.
A local architectural firm, Heffernan Button Voss (HBV), was appointed to provide architectural services for the construction of the Emergency Services Operations Centre.
Builders Solutions Won Group Pty Ltd were appointed to construct the joint centre using local contractors, with up to 30 contractors working on the project at the one time.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to keeping Tasmanians safe, and our $6.5 million investment will enable our emergency services to better undertake their work and to protect our communities.
