The $5 million development of the new SA State Emergency Service (SES) Noarlunga Unit is officially complete, with the site now operational and boasting a range of modern features.

The new facility sitting on a 5,000 square metre block has been built to accommodate the increased capacity demanded by the population boom in Adelaide’s south.

It features a designated Importance Level 4 (IL4) five-bay appliance building, which enables it to operate independently of external utilities for up to 48 hours, and includes male and female change rooms, an external training area, laundry, bathroom and storage.

An operational building includes offices, a dedicated communications room, large training room, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

A back-up generator, 55-panel solar system and a fire and essential water storage tank with mains water pressure allow the Unit to sustain itself in times when external utilities are not available.

Units provide an important place where volunteers and staff can meet to train and coordinate emergency response activities.

To mark the momentous occasion, more than 50 Noarlunga Unit volunteers participated in a ceremonial march from their old premises to their new home.

If people are considering volunteering with the SES to support their local community they can visit www.ses.sa.gov.au/volunteer or call 1300 364 587 for further support and information.

Quotes

Attributable to Joe Szakacs

Our outer metropolitan southern suburbs continue to experience large population growth and expansion, so it is important that we grow and foster the capability to support local communities with an appropriate emergency service response when required.

The previous Noarlunga Unit has worked successfully for 44 years operated by around 70 volunteers who have supported their communities with a selfless dedication.

I thank our valued volunteers for their ongoing service and trust they will enjoy the upgraded facilities of the new Unit.

Attributable to Katrine Hildyard

Our southern community is growing with more and more people enjoying all that the south has to offer.

For more than four decades, generous and committed SES volunteers have served our southern community with diligence and through tireless work to help our community at some really difficult times.

As our community grows, we need infrastructure that enables these brilliant volunteers to keep being there with people.

I am so happy for our southern community and our SES volunteers that the day has finally arrived to open this important, new, state of the art facility. Thank you to everybody who has worked so hard to bring it to life; it will make a difference to our southern community and these remarkable volunteers for decades to come.

Attributable to Chris Beattie, SES Chief Officer

The new Unit ensures we can increase our operational response capability in line with community needs.

Last year the Noarlunga SES Unit responded to more than 850 requests for assistance from their local community.

The previous site on Brian Road, Lonsdale has served the community well since 1979 but it was time to create a more modern facility to ensure we maintain our high-level response capabilities, such as vertical rescues.

Attributable to Allan Coster, Noarlunga Unit manager

The old Noarlunga Unit opened in 1979 and has serviced the local community with distinction over the past 44 years.

The new purpose-built facilities will provide extra training space ensuring we can expand our skills and continue to deliver a modern emergency response to the
southern area as well as promoting the great work of the SES organisation.

We’re all very keen to have a look inside the time capsule, we don’t know what condition the contents will be in, and all we really know is that there is an old mobile phone in there. So it will be very interesting to open it up.