Moruya SLSC the latest bushfire haven opened as other promised upgrades are yet to be delivered

The Moruya Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) is the latest community-owned facility that the Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) has upgraded to operate as a bushfire and heatwave haven.

That is great work by a group of volunteers reliant on grant funding. As the fifth anniversary of the Black Summer bushfires approaches though, several upgrades and new facilities promised by governments have not been delivered.

The upgraded haven was officially opened on 29 October by Eurobodalla Shire Councillor Sharon Winslade on behalf of Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland.

Funded by $72,849 from the NSW Government’s Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants, Micro Energy Systems of Bodalla installed LED lighting, a 10-kWh battery and 20 kVA emergency power generator, while Batemans Bay’s Climate Control installed air conditioning and HEPA filters. The project was managed by SHASA member Kate Taylor.

SHASA president Kathryn Maxwell said it was heat and smoke that affected the most vulnerable community members which could lead to hospitals being overwhelmed.

“In 2021 we had a vision that we wanted a network of havens, places where particularly our vulnerable can go,” she said. “We don’t have shopping malls and the ability to get out of the heat like cities do.”

She said the haven at Moruya SLSC could service the communities at Moruya Heads, Bingie, Congo and Meringo. “These are very vulnerable communities with one road in and out and the Congo northern road is closed,” Ms Maxwell said.

SHASA has now upgraded eight community-owned facilities in the Eurobodalla to function as bushfire and heatwave havens.

The others are Red Door Hall at Moruya’s Anglican Church Precinct, CWA Narooma, Narooma Men’s Shed, CWA Moruya, Moruya Preschool Kindergarten, Anglican Parish in Batemans Bay and Uniting Church in Catalina.

SHASA has equipped each one with a food box and an entertainment box and is adding blankets and stretchers over time.

Ms Maxwell said the halls at South Durras, Nelligen, Bodalla and Dalmeny urgently needed upgrading.

“Bodalla Hall should be done. There is funding at the moment for the Eden Monaro electorate so Eurobodalla Shire Council should apply for funding to upgrade it,” Ms Maxwell said. “The Far South Coast Solar and Batteries Grants program provides 100 per cent funding and the council is eligible.”

She said while SHASA could upgrade community-owned facilities, the council needed to upgrade the facilities it owned, especially the community halls.

“I don’t know why the council has this view they have no role in emergencies because they have,” Ms Maxwell said.

She compared the Eurobodalla situation with the Shoalhaven where all 24 council-owned halls have been upgraded to act as havens and have satellite technology.

Ms Maxwell said it would be very helpful if the council’s Local Emergency Management Committee helped to promote public awareness of the existence and location of the eight upgraded havens.

“In a region of low resources such as ours, we have to work together. We don’t have the luxury of not working together,” she said. “The Bureau of Meteorology is talking about the hottest summer ever, so we need to get our act together.”

Meanwhile, in April 2024 the council noted a “lack of progress” at the new Surf Beach emergency services precinct and raised its “strong concerns” with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) about the development of a separate hub in Moruya.

The RFS said at the time that once it had a final confirmation of the council’s joint financial contribution with the RFS and NSW State Emergency Services (SES), it anticipated the Surf Beach station would be operational during the 2025/26 financial year.

It said that how long council took to acquire its preferred site would determine whether the RFS had the Moruya emergency services precinct completed on schedule ahead of the 2026/27 bushfire season.

In a statement on 24 October, a council spokesperson said the council hoped to provide an update to the community about both sites “before too long”.

“Negotiations continue at state level with the RFS and SES,” the spokesperson said.

On 29 October Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said claims the Moruya precinct had not progressed were “misleading” and that the $5 million federal funding agreement for the project was executed on 13 August.

“The NSW State Government, Eurobodalla Shire Council, RFS, SES and Marine Rescue have been working together to progress the Eurobodalla Regional Co-located Emergency Services Precinct with the site secured and planning well underway.”

There has been no progress on updating or upgrading the evacuation centres at Batemans Bay or Narooma nor promised upgrades to mobile phone reception at Dalmeny and Mystery Bay.