Southeast NSW SES units' response ability bolstered with 38 new vehicles, vessels and equipment

Last financial year, Wollongong’s SES unit recorded the seventh-highest number of storm and flood callouts in NSW. Photo: SES Wollongong.

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) units in NSW’s southeast, from Wollongong to Eden and Young to the Snowy Mountains, have been bolstered by 38 new assets including boats, rescue and storm vehicles, and Ark Angels in the past financial year. They will enhance flood rescue and operational response during severe weather events.

The new equipment from the NSW Government includes seven Gemini inflatable rescue boats (IRBs), nine Ark Angels, command vehicles, and heavy and medium rescue trucks.

Ark Angels are critical for quick and efficient flood response as they are easily transported on top of an operational vehicle and can be deployed in many flood situations.

The Gemini IRBs will allow NSW SES volunteers to undertake flood rescue, reconnaissance and support tasks to help communities.

All new vehicles have ”Vehicle as a Node” (VaaN) technology. It allows crews to communicate using 4G and satellite networks, in addition to regular radio networks, while deployed. This helps ensure crews can stay connected during emergencies and overcome any dangerous communication blackspots.

Last financial year, NSW SES units across the southeastern zone responded to more than 5600 calls for assistance, with Wollongong branch recording the seventh-highest number of storm and flood jobs in the state. Nowra unit responded to 226 incidents in the same period.

The NSW SES had its busiest year on record in 2022, with volunteers logging more than 1 million hours and completing more than 3800 flood rescues, 30 vertical rescues, more than 67,000 animal rescues, 575 road crash rescues, 2800 resupply missions, and 628 medical resupply missions.

Nearly 3000 new volunteers joined the ranks of the SES in the past year and the organisation is encouraging more people to sign up to their local unit to further strengthen the state’s defences against severe storms and floods.

The first sod is turned for the new SES incident control centre at Goulburn. It has received a new C1V – 400 Gemini IRB. Photo: NSW SES.

The allocation of assets included:

• Alpine Search and Rescue received a new command vehicle.
• Batemans Bay received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB.
• Bega received an Ark Angel and accessories.
• Bermagui and Bombala units each received a general-purpose vehicle and an Ark Angel with accessories.
• Braidwood received an Ark Angel and accessories.
• Bungendore received a general- purpose vehicle.
• Dapto and Goulburn each received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB.
• Eden received a general-purpose vehicle.
• Harden received a general-purpose trailer and an Ark Angel with accessories.
• Kiama received a general-purpose trailer and general-purpose vehicle.
• Moss Vale received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB, plus an Ark Angel and accessories.
• Nowra received an Ark Angel and accessories.
• Queanbeyan received a general-purpose vehicle.
• Shellharbour received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB, general-purpose trailer and general-purpose vehicle.
• Snowy River received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB, general-purpose trailer, light rescue vehicle, C3V – 550 Yamba V-hull, and a general-purpose vehicle.
• Ulladulla received a general-purpose vehicle and Ark Angel with accessories.
• Windellama received a C1V – 400 Gemini IRB.
• Wollondilly received an Ark Angel and accessories.
• Yass received a general-purpose trailer, and Young took possession of a light storm vehicle.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the bravery and selflessness of NSW SES volunteers in recent years had been remarkable.

During the most recent storm season alone they responded to almost 16,000 flood and storm incidents across the state.

NSW SES Acting Commissioner Debbie Platz said the new assets would ensure it could provide swift and effective assistance to those who needed it most during times of crisis.

“The additional vehicles, vessels and equipment will help volunteers save lives and respond to floods, as well as many other incidents such as road crashes and land rescues and searches,” she said.