South Tamworth will soon boast “one of the biggest and the best” fire stations in the state following the confirmation of almost $5 million in funding from the state government.
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Just last week contracts settled on a parcel of land opposite the Longyard Hotel on Ringers Road, where the all new 4000 square metre South Tamworth 448 will be constructed.
Fire and Rescue NSW Zone Commander, Superintendent Tom Cooper announced the project on Friday alongside Kevin Anderson, following an “exhaustive” process of scouting possible locations following the initial funding announcement last year.
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Once operational the new station will replace the West Tamworth station, and will also house the Zone Office, which is currently in the CBD.
“New number, new name, new start,” Supt Cooper said.
“We looked at several sites, three in West Tamworth, but they were all too small – this station comes without compromise.”
The “headquarters of the region” will be the third of its kind built in northern NSW and based on the new Ballina headquarters.
It will not only house 20 permanent and 18 retained fire fighters as well as eight office staff, but also four engines and a training facility.
“We will have a two level container prop that can be used for heights and ropes training, as well as filled with smoke,” he said.
“I would also like to improve the region’s Hazmat capabilities, while there will also be plenty of room to house a lot of the equipment that is now cramped into the Carthage Street station.”
“We are really looking to the future here, there is a lot of housing going up this side of the city and this station will be big enough to cope with the growth of Tamworth and of the fire service for the next 50 or 60 years.”
Mr Anderson confirmed the station will be operational by 2020, before praising the work of Supt Cooper, who has achieved some major milestones since his tenure began.
“When we started this program in 2015 stage one was to get 24 hour staffing, tick,” Mr Anderson said.
“The next step was to build a brand new fire station, not only to house those 11 new firies but also to keep our communities safe and reduce response times.”
Since December last year firefighters have responded to 129 fires, 58 motor vehicle accidents and numerous other incidents.
