From Georgetown to the Gold Coast, more than $586,000 in grants have been provided by the Palaszczuk Government to councils across Queensland to help them support their local SES groups.
Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan announced the grants on Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW), a national day that recognises and celebrates the achievements of SES volunteers.
"Our partnership with local councils and SES groups across Queensland was forged over many years in the most challenging of times.
"Together, we have stood side by side through cyclones, storms, floods and bushfires. We have kept communities safe. We share the same vision for a strong and resilient Queensland that can withstand whatever nature throws our way.
"The SES Support Grant program is another opportunity for all of us to work together. It's about the State Government and local councils working in partnership to support hard-working SES volunteers across Queensland," Minister Ryan said.
Under the funding partnership, the State provides grants to local councils to help them support SES groups in their area. The Queensland Government's grants can cover up to $75,000 of the costs of upgrades and improvements to SES buildings and structures, and up to $30,000 of the costs of new and replacement SES vehicles.
"Through this grants program, we have been able to contribute towards a shed expansion for the SES at Airlie Beach, an upgrade of SES facilities in Kuranda and replacement vehicles for SES groups in Ayr, Mossman, Tully, Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, to name a few," Minister Ryan said.
QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said 20 grant applications had been successful during the 2021-22 funding year.
"QFES is pleased to be able to offer support to our dedicated volunteers by way of accommodation and vehicles," Mr Leach said.
"As we come to the end of another busy storm season, we know just how heavily SES buildings and vehicles are used and relied upon.
"So, it's important we are providing our SES groups with the finances they need to update their facilities and resources".
State Emergency Service (SES) projects allocated funding in this round:
- Doomadgee SES shed security and safe storage
- Yowah SES storage extension
- Jundah SES vehicle and equipment shed
- Georgetown SES bushfire capability enhancement
- Longreach SES capability and capacity enhancement to accommodation
- Replacement vehicle for Ayr SES
- Replacement vehicle for Roma SES
- Replacement vehicle for Mossman SES
- Alpha SES facility fit out
- Replacement vehicle for Nambour SES
- Replacement vehicle for Inglewood SES
- Kuranda SES facilities upgrades
- Arlie Beach SES shed extension
- Replacement operational response vehicle for Charters Towers SES
- Replacement vehicle for Tully SES
- Cleveland (Redlands) SES vehicle storage and security upgrade
- Somerset Unit SES power upgrades
- Replacement vehicle for Moreton Bay Unit SES
- Agnes Waters SES ablution block redevelopment
- Gold Coast SES vehicle replacement
