Plans have been releasedf for a new $6-million State Emergency Service (SES) Depot and Emergency Operations Centre in Deception Bay. Considered one of Brisbane’s top-performing SES units, it has been forced to operate from what local officials describe as a “poor quality shed” despite its award-winning status.
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The SES Depot is expected to support the rapidly growing region. The current facility, a community-built structure on Old Bay Road dating back to 1985, is struggling with storage issues, recruitment constraints, and outdated facilities that no longer meet operational or training demands.
The proposed redevelopment aims to transform the depot into a state-of-the-art facility, including:
- A modern, purpose-built training facility for high-risk activities
- A 9-bay vehicle garage with three double-depth drive-through bays
- A new shared expanded carpark with the Dragons Football Club
- Accommodation and support services
Local official Peter Flannery highlighted the disparity between the unit’s performance and its working conditions. “The Deception Bay SES Group is in the top two percent of busiest SES groups in Queensland and the City has had a 182 percent increase in SES service requests over the year, yet they are working from a poor quality shed,”he stated.
The Deception Bay unit’s accolades include the 2023 Commissioner’s Cup for SES Unit of the Year, recognising their work during the 2022 floods and support in missing persons searches. This week, the broader Moreton Bay SES Group won the 2024 Unit/Group of the Year at the SES Week State Award Ceremony.
Despite these achievements, funding remains a challenge. The City of Moreton Bay has allocated $3.75 million to the redevelopment in the 2024-25 budget and committed over $300,000 in design and development costs. However, the State government has not agreed to match the funding on a 50/50 basis.
“The team are doing extraordinary things, but capital funding investment by the State is needed so they can continue to ably support our community.
“As we move into severe weather season, and on the back of climate change and the relentless pace of emergencies and disasters, such as the severe flooding and storm events we experienced earlier in the year, this is now desperate,” he also emphasised.
The Deception Bay SES Group, part of the larger Moreton Bay SES Group with over 270 volunteers, responded to more than 250 direct requests for assistance in their primary area last year. They also handled over 500 requests during three large-scale weather events across Moreton Bay.
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As plans for the new Operations Centre await full funding, the Deception Bay SES unit continues to serve from its ageing facility, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure investment in critical emergency services.
Published 15-September-2024
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