Record budget boost to SES funding after flooding disaster
The State Emergency Service will receive its single biggest investment on the back of the northern rivers flood disaster, with more than $132 million for infrastructure, resources and staffing.
As part of the investment, to be included in this month’s state budget, is a new incident control centre to be built and staffed in Lismore, where four people died in February in the devastating floods.
The SES will receive a record funding boost in this month’s budget. Credit:James Brickwood
More than 3000 residential, commercial and industrial buildings were inundated and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of critical infrastructure was damaged in the disaster.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW government was committed to investing in communities to strengthen frontline services statewide.
“The recent flooding has caused widespread devastation across the state, which is why it’s so important we ensure the SES has the resources it needs to respond to natural disasters of this significant scale,” Perrottet said.
The premier has indicated he would be willing to relocate residents in flood-prone areas of Lismore if an independent inquiry into the disaster recommends moving the town – a measure estimated to cost more than $1 billion.
Perrottet recently told the Herald’s Infrastructure Summit he would feel “personally responsible” if the town faced another deadly flood and the government had not tried to reduce the devastation.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the funding would ensure a more targeted and rapid response for future emergency events attended by the SES across NSW.
The new funding includes more than $50 million to upgrade 18 critical priority units across NSW.
“The new facilities and additional staff will help boost the SES’s capability to handle severe weather events particularly in flood prone areas like the Northern Rivers, and to ensure these communities are better prepared,” Toole said.
“But this funding will also fortify the presence of the SES across NSW, building on our previous track record of investment into this vital service run predominantly by the community, for the community.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the funding would support the 10,000-plus SES volunteers who serve their communities.
“Today is a great demonstration of the NSW government’s commitment to all of our wonderful volunteers, our very own orange army,” Cooke said.
“We rely on the dedication and commitment of SES volunteers in times of great need, and they always deliver, and part of this funding will go towards upgrading 18 units across the state.”
SES Commissioner Carlene York said the funding would help the agency strengthen its responsiveness into the future.
“This investment in the SES enhances our support of our greatest asset, our volunteers, and enables us to provide the vital assistance NSW communities need to protect life and property around the State,” York said.
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