New Boats, Vehicles Bolster Local SES Flood Rescue Capability

A bevy of rescue and storm vehicles and vessels were delivered to NSW State Emergency Service (SES) units across southern NSW, including Griffith, last weekend.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and Member for Murray Helen Dalton joined the SES Griffith unit to hand over new assets in readiness for storm season over the warmer months.

The Griffith unit received three new vehicles, including a General Purpose Vehicle, a Light Rescue Vehicle and a Heavy Rescue Vehicle.

Nearby Deniliquin unit received 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.

Member for Murray, Helen Dalton said the SES was a lifeline out this way and the desperately-needed boats and trucks would help keep us all 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,” Ms Dalton said.

“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.”

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.

Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said having these new boats and vehicles delivered to Griffith and fellow southern NSW SES units would better support 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,” Minister Dib said.

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 one 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.

Full list of assets delivered in Southern Zone:

• Albury - General Purpose Vehicle

• Balranald - Light Storm Trailer, Ark Angel and accessories

• Barham - General Purpose Vehicle, Ark Angel and accessories

• Binda - Command Vehicle

• Coleambally - General Purpose Vehicle, Ark Angel and accessories

• Cootamundra - CIV - 400 Gemini IRB, General Purpose Vehicle

• Cowra - CIV - 400 Gemini IRB, General Purpose Vehicle

• Culcairn - General Purpose Trailer, Ark Angel and accessories

• Deniliquin-Conargo - C2V - 520 BMS Guardian Punt Prop, Art Angel and accessories

• Forbes - CIV - 400 Gemini IRB

• Goolagong - Ark Angel and accessories

• Grenfell - General Purpose Vehicle

• Griffith - General Purpose Vehicle, Light Rescue Vehicle, Heavy Rescue Vehicle

• Gundagai - General Purpose Trailer, General Purpose Vehicle

• Hay - General Purpose Trailer, Ark Angel and accessories

• Hillston - General Purpose Trailer

• Hume - Command Vehicle

• Junee - General Purpose Vehicle

• Khancoban - Ark Angel and accessories

• Lake Cargelligo - General Purpose Vehicle

• Mathoura - General Purpose Trailer

• Murrumbidgee Irrigation - Command Vehicle

• Narrandera - General Purpose Vehicle

• Parkes - CIV - 400 Gemini IRB, Medium Rescue Vehicle

• Riverina - Command Vehicle

• Riverina Plains - Command Vehicle

• Southern Zone HQ - General Purpose Trailer

• Trundle - Ark Angel and accessories

• Tumut - General Purpose Vehicle, Light Rescue Vehicle

• Urana - General Purpose Vehicle

• Wagga - Ark Angel and accessories, General Purpose Trailer

• Topics:

• Emergency Services