The Andrews Labor Government is improving emergency response capability in Western Victoria with the opening of the new incident control centre at Forest Fire Management Victoria’s Natimuk Road depot.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today officially opened the multi-agency response facility with the latest design and compliance standards – providing more functional space for all emergency management staff.

The Labor Government’s $1.65 million upgrade will provide improved radio, telephone and data communications infrastructure to sustain communications in significant multi-agency incidents and ensure the reliability of back-up power during outages.

The new centre is now set up and ready to respond to fire and floods, and will also provide systems and equipment to allow for expanded use of digital information technology during large and complex incidents.

During the last four years it has been the management centre for the 35,000-hectare Victoria Valley Complex, 50,000-hectare Northern Grampians Complex, 4,500-hectare Moyston, and 4,000-hectare Black Range-Rees Road fires.

Consultation on the design of the facility was carried out with Forest Fire Management Victoria, the CFA, Victoria Police, State Emergency Services, Parks Victoria, VicRoads, and Department of Health and Human Services who all form the emergency management team for an incident.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re improving the ability of all major emergency agencies to more effectively respond to large and complex incidents in Western Victoria.”

“The Horsham Incident Control Centre is one of the largest in the state covering about 2.7 million hectares – this upgrade is a vital step in better managing severe fire and floods.”

Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney

“This new and improved facility is an important investment in the region and will help our dedicated staff work collaboratively during major events in the Wimmera.”