Firefighters and SES personnel in Byron, Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah have been presented with new vehicles this week.
NSW Emergency Services minister Troy Grant visited the region to present the new vehicles.
In Byron Bay, firefighters received a new $325,000 Mercedes Benz ‘Class 2’ fire truck featuring the latest equipment and technology.
Mr Grant said the truck would boost the capacity of Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters to deal with fires, accidents, chemical spills and other emergencies.
‘When it comes to frontline emergency services, you don’t get any more frontline than standing face-to-face with fire, protecting lives and property,’ Mr Grant said.
In Mullumbimby, the local State Emergency Services unit received a $179,000 emergency response truck which will be used to respond to storm events and other emergencies.
Northern NSW parliamentary secretary Ben Franklin said the truck will ‘boost Mullimbimby’s team but will also help the surrounding community as they responding to flood, storms and other emergency jobs, quickly and efficiently’.
Mr Grant also presented a new vehicle to the Murwillumbah SES unit.
‘This Government is proud to support the SES and its volunteers with this $179,000 emergency response truck as part of a five year $46 million Operational Fleet funding project,’ Mr Grant said.
‘This new vehicle will support our SES volunteers in the tremendous work they do.’
Lismore MP Thomas George said the modified Mercedes Benz Light Storm Vehicle met the response needs of the SES.
‘This purpose built vehicle is an asset to the Murwillumbah Unit and will boost the capabilities of the local SES in responding to storms and floods,’ he said.
‘It will also be on hand to support other agencies during land searches. The Murwillumbah Unit has responded to 680 requests for assistance in the past 12 months.
‘As the most recent floods highlighted, our volunteers are selfless heroes – dedicated to the safety of our community above all else. They are quick and efficien and this new vehicle will help them better serve the community well into the future.’
