State Emergency Service North-west Region HQ

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State Emergency Service North-west Region Headquarters
About this Item
Speakers - Torbay Mr Richard; Baumann Mr Craig
Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE NORTH-WEST REGION HEADQUARTERS
Page: 7025

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [1.40 p.m.]: Today I seek Government assurance that political interference has not scuppered the relocation of the headquarters of the State Emergency Service north-west region from Moree to Inverell. The New South Wales State Emergency Service region boundary review working group has made a cogent case in its report that the move would constitute a more logical operation and administrative alignment. It also said it should be considered as a high priority due to the impending redevelopment of the north-west region headquarters. The working group's recommendations, arrived at after an extensive consultation process, were accepted by the State Emergency Service senior executive group.

I am advised that Cabinet has now approved all the working group's recommendations, except for the relocation of the State Emergency Service north-west headquarters from Moree to Inverell. It is my understanding that the member for Barwon objected to the change on political grounds and, in his position as a Minister and local member, has influenced the Government's decision, contrary to the advice and best interests of the State Emergency Service. Since this Government has made much of its willingness to take objective and independent advice rather than play political games at the expense of the best interests of the community and good governance, I am calling for a prompt response on this issue. The Government would need to make a compelling case for rejecting the advice of the working party.

That advice contained in the report is in accord with the wishes of State Emergency Service personnel in the north-west region and the State Emergency Service senior executive group. The north-west region headquarters were originally established in Moree by accident. It was the practice to make the town where the State Emergency Service controller lived the headquarters. It bore no relation to efficiency and best use of resources. The working group's job was to address these anomalies and to recommend the most effective modes of operation. The working group recommended the movement of the headquarters of the north-west region from Moree to Inverell on a number of grounds. It stated in its report:

The Northwest Region extends from Mungindi in the west to Tenterfield in the east. Moree is central to the western half of the region, while Inverell is more central for the region as a whole. The largest population centre is at Inverell (50% larger than Moree), with adjacent populations in surrounding areas providing the largest pool of potential SES members.

This was considered as less significant than in other regions considered. The largest unit with greatest operational capability is the Inverell unit. Synergies in training, administration and operations are possible by locating the regional headquarters in the same city as this unit. A number of other New South Wales emergency organisations and branches of the New South Wales Public Service have regional or equivalent offices in Inverell. Sufficient transport linkages exist close to Inverell at Armidale where a regular air service to Sydney is available. While there is an air service available at Moree it is of low frequency.

There is no operational or administrative imperative to retain regional headquarters at Moree. An opportunity currently exists to move the North West Region headquarters from Moree to Inverell due to the requirement to build a new facility. The working group understands that a green field site is available in Inverell.

I also understand there would be considerable savings in time and travel expenses through having the headquarters at the centre of the north-west region in Inverell rather than on its periphery in Moree. Currently the New South Wales State Emergency Service operational and administrative structure is managed centrally by a State headquarters based in Wollongong, and there are 17 regions managing and controlling both operations and administration within their areas of responsibility. Regional boundaries are based on a congregation of local government areas largely aligned on river systems. The current region boundaries are similar in many regards to the original boundaries established in 1957.

In 2010 the acting deputy director general appointed the working group to examine the efficacy and efficiency of the current regional boundaries. The objective of the working group was to examine the break-up of the State into State Emergency Service regions and make recommendations on the optimal number of regions required to efficiently and effectively deliver State Emergency Service functions to the community, with an emphasis on collaboration and consultation with any or all stakeholders. The recommendations to move the north-west State Emergency Service headquarters from Moree to Inverell is clear in the report and is based on the consultations and objective considerations of this working group. The Government must explain the objective reasons it has failed to accept the advice regarding the optimal location of the north-west regional headquarters in Inverell and, if those reasons are purely political, it should come clean about it.

Mr CRAIG BAUMANN (Port Stephens—Parliamentary Secretary) [1.45 p.m.]: I note the contribution made by the member for Northern Tablelands and I will refer his statement to the Hon. Mike Gallacher, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.