The completion of a new SES unit at Moss Vale is set to help protect lives and keep regional communities safe in the Southern Highlands region of NSW.
The new $3.36 million unit is jointly funded by the NSW Government, Wingecarribee Shire Council and a community donation.
Almost double the size of the former Moss Vale unit, the new building includes space for rescue vehicles and equipment, operational amenities including a kitchen and bathrooms, enhanced emergency communications equipment and an after-hours delivery bay.
The Moss Vale unit will also include a ‘vertical rescue’ training area and equipment. This will allow volunteers to learn rope and ladder skills, improving their ability to rescue people and animals trapped at heights and depths.
These modern amenities replace the Moss Vale unit’s former home inside a tin shed.
The NSW Government and Wingecarribee Shire Council both contributed $1.5 million to the build, with an additional $310,000 donation from the estate of Southern Highlands resident Cecile Griffin.
The Moss Vale unit will include a dedicated memorial garden and plaque in recognition of Ms Griffin’s generous donation.
The facility is one of 18 SES units being upgraded across NSW, funded by a $58.7 million package from the NSW Government.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, said that the new SES Moss Vale unit ensures volunteers are well placed to support the community when disaster strikes.
“As we’ve seen during the recent Mid North Coast floods, the NSW SES is ready to answer the call and support local communities during the worst of times,” Dib said.
“This new unit has been built and designed with operational experience gained during past natural disasters to support our emergency service response.
“Moss Vale’s facilities will provide our SES volunteers with everything they need to plan and co-ordinate emergency responses and serve the community for years to come.”
NSW SES Commissioner, Mike Wassing, said that the Moss Vale Unit headquarters is a state-of-the-art design and has been built with input from the local unit who understand the needs of the community.
“This new facility provides a space for members to undertake training to be operationally ready to manage and respond to flood, storm and other emergency events,” Wassing said.
“In the past year alone, the NSW SES Moss Vale Unit has responded to about 350 incidents for storms, floods, road crash rescue and large animal rescue.”
Moss Vale NSW SES Unit Commander, Nicole Pisano, said that Moss Vale’s volunteers are excited about the new headquarters.
“I know our unit will go from strength to strength with the new facilities and assets in this new building,” Pisano said.
“When our volunteers have access to new vehicles, or a substantial new facility, it enables us to improve our work in the field.”
Wingecarribee Shire Council Mayor, Jesse Fitzpatrick, said that this purpose-built SES facility is a major win for the Southern Highlands, delivering vital infrastructure to support the community now and into the future.
“It’s a strong demonstration of Council’s commitment to our incredible local SES volunteers, who serve with professionalism, heart, and unwavering dedication,” Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
“Since 2019, Wingecarribee Shire has been hit by 16 natural disasters – that’s one every five months. In this context, upgraded resources, modern training areas and space to grow are essential.
“Wingecarribee Shire Council proudly provided the land and contributed close to 50 per cent of the project cost, a great example of partnership in action that will strengthen our emergency response into the future.”
