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| READY FOR ACTION: SES Goodna group leader Howard Hancock with volunteers at the new SES Redbank Plains depot. |
SES LEADERS have welcomed the new $2 million facility at Redbank Plains that represents the biggest investment in the service in Queensland history.
The facility, built by Ipswich City Council to replace the old Goodna SES Unit depot at Bellbird Park, features a floodlit car park with 64 spaces, a large shed for all the SES equipment and vehicles as well as a new main administration building housing a kitchen, meeting rooms, operation room and offices.
SES Goodna group leader Howard Hancock said the new facility was "state of the art and purpose built for what we need" to give the service more scope to cope with natural disasters.
"Our numbers have swelled and we now have a lot more room for training. It has tripled our area," he said.
"We can deploy more teams from here and service other areas if need be ... and we have got the room for other teams to come in and help."
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he valued the work of the SES in the community and the new complex would "allow the group's members to continue to provide first-class assistance to the community".
"The city's SES members are at the forefront when any disaster strikes our community and we are extremely grateful for the work carried out by our local volunteers," he said.
"Their skills were especially tested during the January 2011 flood in Ipswich and they came through with flying colours, once again demonstrating the vital role they play in our community." Cr Pisasale encouraged Ipswich residents to join the SES and become one of the "orange brigade".
The chairwoman of the council infrastructure committee, Cr Cheryl Bromage, said the new facility would service the growing Goodna catchment including future developing areas such as Springfield and Ripley Valley.
"We are ensuring they have the necessary equipment and tools available to allow them to be ready, willing and able to support the local community whenever they are needed," she said.
"The SES depot is a vital part of the city's disaster preparedness ... and is well positioned to meet the needs of the Ipswich community well into the future."
Ipswich SES local controller Arie van den Ende was also over the moon about the new complex. "Everybody is envious of what we've got," he said.
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