Tribute paid to emergency service workers at official opening of Bruce Rock Centre

8/10/99

Premier Richard Court today paid tribute to the thousands of Western Australian men and women involved in emergency service activities throughout the State.
Officially opening the $404,000 Bruce Rock Emergency Services Centre,
Mr Court said communities throughout WA benefited from the commitment and dedication of the many volunteers and staff who often went beyond the call of duty in their day-to-day activities as emergency service personnel.
"In country centres such as Bruce Rock the emergency services are an important focus for the local community and provide much needed assistance in times of crisis," the Premier said.
The new Bruce Rock Emergency Services Centre, at the corner of Johnston and Dunstall Streets, is the eleventh such complex constructed in regional WA since 1995 as part of a Government initiative for collocated emergency service facilities. At least 12 more are in the pipeline.
According to the requirements of the specific centre or region they may include facilities for the Bush Fire Service and Fire and Rescue Service, the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue or the St John Ambulance.
The Bruce Rock centre, which accommodates the operations of St John Ambulance, the Bush Fire Service and the State Emergency Service, replaces three outdated and inadequate buildings no longer meeting the needs of each emergency service organisation.
The design of the centre provides office space for each of the emergency services groups operating from it, training areas and vehicle bays to house a variety of emergency service appliances.
Mr Court said there would be many benefits from the decision to collocate the facilities.
"There are obvious cost savings for each of the organisations involved, but more importantly, it can assist in the training of personnel and the timely delivery of emergency services through improved coordination," he said.
"The Shire of Bruce Rock, along with the emergency service organisations involved and the local community, are to be congratulated on the completion of such an outstanding facility."
Mr Court said the State Government recognised the valuable contribution made to the community by emergency service personnel and the need to provide ongoing support to ensure groups had the training and equipment they required.
"Over the past four years the Government has contributed $2.5 million a year in grants for local governments to buy bush firefighting equipment and protective clothing for volunteers," Mr Court said.
"An additional $1 million has been contributed to training for both Fire and Rescue Service and Bush Fire Brigade volunteers.
"The Fire Services have been provided with more than $3 million for radio and other telecommunications services and the State Emergency Service has been provided with $2.4 million in a four-year program to upgrade equipment.
"In WA there are 23,000 volunteers involved in emergency services supported by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority and local governments.
"As a community we are indebted to each of them."
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 9222 9475