NEW HOME FOR AUSTINMER RURAL FIRE

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and Wollongong City Council have reached an agreement to relocate Austinmer Rural Fire Brigade to a permanent new home at Thirroul.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the Brigade’s current station is ageing, damp and located on a steep and narrow street on the Illawarra escarpment, making it diffcult for crews to negotiate the street if other vehicles are parked along the side of the road.

“The RFS has worked tirelessly with the Transport Asset Holding Entity and Wollongong City Council to secure a site to build a new, ft-for-purpose home for the Brigade,” Ms Cooke said.

“The new station’s facilities and amenities represent an investment of more than $1 million and will consist of dedicated male and female change rooms and bathrooms, a training and meeting room, drying racks for uniforms and storage space.”

Member for Heathcote Lee Evans said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government and local council are working together to support volunteer frefghters.

“This 3,687-squaremetre parcel of land owned by the Transport Asset Holding Entity is vacant but can now be put to good use in support of our community,” Mr Evans said.

“Finding a suitable location on the narrow strip of land between the escarpment and the coastline has been a challenge, and I want to acknowledge everyone who has played a role in ensuring our volunteer frefghters get the facilities they deserve.”

RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said the existing station, built in the 1970s, was no longer suitable for modern emergency response operations.

“This new station will provide our frefghters with ft-for-purpose facilities and enable them to deploy more rapidly to protect their community,” Commissioner Rogers said.

“The Sea Foam Avenue site will provide an enormous upgrade for our members in their work for protect Austinmer, Thirroul and surrounding suburbs for decades to come.”