New emergency services collocation centre created at Eucla

23/4/97

For the first time Western Australian and South Australian emergency services have joined forces in the creation of a new collocation centre at Eucla.

Opening the new $96,000 centre, Emergency Services Minister John Day said the facility was an important part of the Government's strategy to collocate emergency services under one roof instead of building separate headquarters.

Mr Day said the new centre would house local volunteers from the Fire and Rescue Service, the State Emergency Service, the Bush Fires Board, St John Ambulance and the Shire of Dundas.

"With an ever-increasing volume of tourist traffic and general road transport passing along the Eyre Highway, the strategic location of this new centre is crucial to providing an efficient and effective service for emergencies," he said.

"Collocation will also create significant cost savings for local communities and Government agencies - money which can be put towards training, equipment and vehicles."

Mr Day said the Government was committed to upgrading emergency facilities and capabilities in country towns. The Eucla centre is the second collocation facility to be built in WA following the opening of a new centre in the Wheatbelt town of Kulin last October.

"Collocation is an important means of keeping capital costs and overheads to a minimum while providing the local community with a high quality service," he said.

"The process also leads to a better standard of centre because the agencies pool their resources and because they share the costs and funds there is a reduction in the duplication of amenities, such as kitchens, toilets and showers."

Mr Day said the cost of the centre was funded with contributions through Lotteries Commission grants on behalf of the State Emergency Service of $30,000 and $25, 000 to St John Ambulance, with the balance of $41,000 being met by the Fire and Rescue Service.

The contribution by the South Australian Country Fire Service was to provide a fire appliance to Eucla in August 1995.

The Minister said 12 volunteers from the local Eucla community would operate from the new centre providing an important first line response to emergencies, such as bush and property fires, road accident rescues, removal of hazardous material spills and land and sea searches.

"Collocation is a practical solution at Eucla because it means all emergency services will learn and be involved in each other's roles and responsibilities which will provide the local community with a more effective and efficient response to emergency management," Mr Day said.

Media contact: Mark Thompson on 322 2311