The Minns Labor Government is investing an additional $17 million over two years into the renewal of the State’s fire-fighting fleet to strengthen our frontline emergency response.
This two year investment will deliver more than 15 new fire trucks to replace ageing vehicles, with initial funding part of a $98.7 million capital program over the next year which also funds new and upgraded fire stations.
Through the 2025-26 NSW Budget we are delivering better essential services that people rely on and investing to grow the economy—setting NSW up for long-term prosperity.
This additional budget for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) forms part of our wider investment to keep people safe and better serve communities during crisis by supporting our frontline emergency services.
Upgraded FRNSW fleet
Over the next two years, FRNSW will roll out new fire trucks, aerial ladder trucks and specialist vehicles to improve our emergency response to serious incidents.
The additional investment comes as the Minister unveiled the first of a new generation of fire trucks rolling out at Burwood, Newtown, Alexandria and Darlinghurst Fire Stations.
The new fire trucks have been designed and assembled in Australia, with the first stationed at Burwood. Valued at more than $900,000, the Burwood truck is equipped with updated features designed to improve access to firefighting tools during emergency responses.
Alexandria, Australia’s busiest hazardous materials station, also recently received a new fire truck to support hazmat and chemical incident response.
Investing in fire stations
Along with increased funding for fire fighting vehicles, the NSW Government continues to upgrade and build new fire stations across the state. This includes new station builds at Cessnock, Dungog and Charlestown, and station refurbishments at Cooma and Cootamundra.
Design works are continuing for new stations at Wentworthville, Goonellabah, Broken Hill, Lithgow and Byron Bay, as well as upgrades at Moss Vale Fire Station.
The new and enhanced stations will provide dedicated facilities for both men and women firefighters, as well as ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ zones to help prevent the transfer of contaminants from fire scenes.
Protecting communities against natural disasters
The emergency services budget supports a range of initiatives across the portfolio including flood response, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) aerial response and communications infrastructure and platforms to help better respond to emergencies and natural disasters. This investment reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s focus on rebuilding essential services and continues a sustained uplift for the NSW State Emergency Service (SES).
RFS aviation funding has been boosted by $34.4 million over four years to ensure we can secure fixed wing aircraft and helicopters for emergencies in the face of increasing competition for resources as fire seasons extend around the world.
Emergency warnings sent to mobile and landline phones will also be supported through a $6.4 million allocation. The Emergency Alert System is used by emergency services to send location-based warnings during natural disasters such as floods and bush fires, and to help locate missing persons.
The NSW Budget to be released on 24 June will contain further details about emergency services investment as part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“We are investing in our emergency services to deliver the equipment and infrastructure they need to keep people and property safe.”
“The value of this investment has been demonstrated time and time again, most recently during the mid-north coast floods, where we saw the SES lead the emergency response assisted by Fire and Rescue flood response teams and RFS aviation assets.”
“Whether we are responding to bush fires or house fires, floods or road crash rescues, this investment is vital to support our emergency service workers and volunteers on the frontline.”
“This year’s multi-million dollar commitment to modern firefighting fleet, stations, equipment and communications will help protect communities across Sydney and regional areas for years to come.”
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell AFSM said:
“Communities across the state will be better protected and our firefighters will be better equipped to do their jobs with the range of new vehicles.”
“We will continue to target our investment wisely and modernise our fleet to better serve NSW communities.”