State-of-the-art emergency services centre WA’s biggest

Since moving into the new state-of-the-art facility, Mandurah State Emergency Services regional manager Chris Strickland says the organisation is ready for any challenge that lies ahead.

The Telegraph was given a tour of the new Greenfields facility last week as the group put the finishing touches on its headquarters, which Mr Strickland said was 35 years in the making.

“This was a quarry before we came here,” he said.

“Mandurah is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia and initially they didn’t match the growth of the emergency services - now they’re catching up.

“We’re still developing and sorting a few things out but the central location makes a big difference.

“We’re probably now one of the best equipped units in WA and definitely the largest.” Now in its 40th year of operating in Mandurah, the SES has increasingly become a key aspect of any emergency response operation.

The new facility houses three fully equipped rescue trailers, which can be deployed within 15 minutes of being called and is capable of servicing more than 80km of coast from Singleton to Lake Clifton.

The centre has a number of radio control and operations rooms, with Peel Amateur Radio Group also working out of the facility with their members capable of reaching any emergency centre in the world.

Eleven cameras have been installed to help co-ordinate emergency responses at a State level.

There are 86 volunteers at Mandurah SES and a cadet group ensures the next stock of volunteers are not far off.

After 35 years with the Mandurah SES Mr Strickland said it was still a very rewarding job and called on anyone with a skill or trade to get involved.

“We’re always behind the scenes helping the emergency services which is a really important job,” he said.

“We’re always on the lookout for people with special skills like electricians or builders.

“It’s a big operation and it takes a lot of time but it’s all worth it in the end.”