The Northern Rivers Times Edition 133

SITE SELECTED FOR GRAFTON EMERGENCY HUB

A new Fire Control and Emergency Operations Centre will be built at Clarence Valley Regional Airport thanks to an $8.5 million investment by the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke joined Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis and Rural Fire Service

(RFS) Acting Deputy Commissioner Kelly Quandt to unveil the Centre’s location.

“Having a Fire Control Centre and Emergency Operations Centre co-located will make an enormous difference to the way our emergency services personnel from the RFS, but also other agencies including the SES, Fire and Rescue

Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre Grafton plan

NSW and Police are able to respond to fres, foods, storms and a range of other emergencies,” Ms Cooke said.

“It will provide our volunteers and staff with modern, purpose-built facilities essential to the coordination and management of hazards to keep Grafton and the surrounding

communities safer and stronger into the future.”

Once construction is completed, the facility will consist of:

• An operations and logistics centre;

• Administration offces;

• Training rooms;

• Storage space; and

• Vehicle bays.

Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said the

region is no stranger to natural disasters, with the ferocious fres early in the 2019-20 Black Summer as well as last year’s fooding having a devastating impact on lives, livelihoods and the environment.

“Some of our State’s most experienced emergency service volunteers and staff are based in our

Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre Grafton

community and they deserve the very best facilities and resources, which I’m proud the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“I want to thank Clarence Valley Council who have worked with the RFS to identify the best potential site for develop this state-of-the-

art facility.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Quandt said said the new facility will replace the existing Fire Control Centre at Ulmarra, which is no longer ft-for-purpose.

“When a major disaster strikes, it is critical all the relevant agencies can come together to coordinate their activities to protect and assist the community,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Quandt said.

“The new centre will ensure the more than 1,100 volunteers from Brigades across the RFS’s Clarence Valley District have access to the latest technology and equipment to support their work.”

Design work is now underway and construction will commence later this year.

In response to the independent Bushfre Inquiry following the Black Summer fre season, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has invested $71 million in eight new Fire Control Centres in high fre risk areas across the State.

BUSINESSES INVITED TO REGISTER INTEREST IN PARTNERING WITH NEW RAIL TRAIL

Businesses are invited to register their interest in participating in the Rail Trail in categories including Taste (food and beverage), Stay (accommodation), Move (travel and transport options) Explore (education and recreation), and Enjoy (entertainment and events).

Tweed Shire Council is calling for businesses to register their interest in joining the Rail Trail Partner Program in advance of the 24km Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opening in March. Council and its tourism partner The Tweed Tourism Company will work with operators interested in commercial partnerships to offer guest experiences across the areas of:

• Taste (food and beverage)

• Stay (accommodation)

• Move (travel and transport options)

• Explore (education and recreation)

• Enjoy (entertainment and events). Manager Destination, Communication and Customer Experience Tiffany Stodart said adjoining landowners and businesses who want to be part of the region’s newest must-do experience should register their interest now.

“We are ready to hear from our business community, adjoining landowners and those interested in making the rail trail a great experience,” Ms Stodart said.

“The opportunities are many - cafes and coffee, ice cream and gelato, gourmet hampers and picnics, bike hire and shuttle services, education, recreation and cultural tours and so much more.”

The Rail Trail Partner Program provides adjoining landowners and businesses the opportunity to progress to commercial partnerships to make the most of the economic benefits of the rail trail.

The easy-to-use online form requires basic business details, what

type of experience

businesses are offering, and a summary as to how they will align with the trail’s values of Discovery, Connection, Freedom, and Fun.

“This call out for businesses to register their interest is aimed at attracting a wide range of operators, to ensure the rail trail provides quality guest experiences,” Ms Stodart said.

Register your interest in becoming a business partner of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail at northernriversrailtrail. com.au/register-interestpartner-program-tweed.

A new and comprehensive rail trail website also is on track to launch in early February 2023 and will provide a wide range of trail information and experiences. The new site will replace the existing page at northernriversrailtrail. com.au.

Funding for the Tweed section was provided by the Australian Government under its Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Package Fund, and from the NSW Government under its Restart NSW fund.

To stay informed, subscribe to the rail trail’s news and follow Northern Rivers Rail Trail on Facebook and Instagram.

For enquiries regarding the operations of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail call 02 6673 0404 or email hello@ northernriversrailtrail. com.au.