Yesterday, the ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, publicly issued a statement about the FY2009/10 ACT budget improvement to emergency services facilities.  As part of that he announced that Rivers Shed, which the home to both Rivers SES Unit and Rivers Bushfire Brigade, would be redeveloped, modernised and enlarged.    

 

Until now, both the bushfiries and the SES volunteers (about 100 members all up) have been based in and working out of two tin sheds (one large and one small) in a paddock, so this new announcement is very welcome – and some would say very overdue!  Under this new plan, Rivers will (hopefully) get a proper building from which to operate as well as adequate shed space in which to store its vehicles, trailers and other equipment – for now and in the future. 

 

Rivers volunteers are working directly with the architect to design the precinct, which is both exciting and challenging for all concerned.  We want it to be functional, and be able to be used for multiple functions.  It needs to be in keeping with the rural landscape, as well as energy-efficient and thermally-comfortable all year around – it gets very hot in the Summer and very cold in Winter out there!

 

The Rivers Admin Building, should it eventuate, will include a training suite, offices (one for RFS and one for SES), a briefing room, a kitchen, ablutions and a locker room.

 

All things being equal, it is anticipated that the new precinct should be completely finished and fully operational by June 2011.