New rescue and storm vehicles and vessels have been delivered to NSW State Emergency Service (SES) units across southern NSW, including the Griffith and Deniliquin units.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and Member for Murray Helen Dalton joined the SES Griffith unit to hand over five new assets in readiness for storm season over the warmer months.
The Griffith unit will receive three new vehicles, including a General Purpose Vehicle, a Light Rescue Vehicle, and a Heavy Rescue Vehicle. The nearby Deniliquin unit will receive two vessels, including an Ark Angel inflatable rescue boat and a Guardian Punt flood rescue boat.
Easily transported and deployed in many flood situations, Ark Angels are critical for quick and efficient flood response.
All new SES vehicles are equipped with 'Vehicle as a Node' (VaaN) technology, allowing crews to communicate using 4G and satellite networks in addition to regular radio networks.
This helps ensure crews can stay connected during emergencies and overcome any dangerous communication blackspots.
Units across southern NSW, from Condobolin to Albury and Tumut to Balranald, have been bolstered with 45 new assets in the last financial year, enhancing flood rescue and operational response during severe weather events.
Last financial year NSW SES Units across southern NSW responded to more than 1,390 calls for assistance, many of which were for storm and flood assistance.
It comes after the NSW SES had its busiest year on record in 2022, with volunteers logging more than 1 million hours and completing more than 3,800 flood rescues, 30 vertical rescues, more than 67,000 animal rescues, 575 road crash rescues, 2,800 resupply missions and 628 medical resupply missions.
Nearly 3,000 new volunteers joined the ranks of the SES in the past year, and residents are encouraged to join their local unit to further strengthen the state's defences to severe storms and floods.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
"Having these new boats and vehicles delivered to the Griffith and Deniliquin units will even better support our SES volunteers to save lives, protect communities, and minimise the impact of disasters.
"The bravery and selflessness of our SES volunteers over recent years has been remarkable, and during the last Storm Season alone they responded to almost 16,000 flood and storm incidents across the state."
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said:
"The SES is a lifeline out this way and these desperately needed boats and trucks will help keep us safe."
"This kind of support from the NSW Government is a sign to our SES volunteers that they are incredibly valued and that the work they do really matters."
"No-one deals with emergencies better than locals do and this new gear will make it easier for our SES groups to carry out the important work that they do, all year round."
Quotes attributed to Acting Commissioner Debbie Platz
"These new assets ensure we can provide swift and effective assistance to those who need it most during times of crisis.
The additional vehicles, vessels and equipment will help volunteers save lives and respond to floods as well as many other incidents such as road crashes and land rescues and searches."
