Page 6 - PR Mag Aug19

Arana Hills SES Open Doors to New

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HOME

South East Queensland’s newest State Emergency Service (SES) facility will officially
open its doors Saturday, 3 August in Arana Hills thanks to a $2.7 million investment by
Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Queensland Government.

For more than 30 years the Arana Hills SES unit has operated levels of government should be getting behind.
from an old converted house at the back of the property on “We have some inspirational and selfless people working in
Bunya Road in James Drysdale Reserve. this space — not just in the SES but also in the Queensland Fire
With more than 70 members, it was a tight squeeze. and Emergency Services, Queensland Police and our very own
Council applied to the Queensland Government for funding Disaster Management team here in council.”
support through the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Councillor for Division 10 Matt Constance said the new purpose-
Program to assist with construction of a new facility for the SES built buildings collectively more than doubled the floor space
unit in 2017. for the Arana Hills SES unit.
Two years later and the paint has dried on two new state-of-the- “By better equipping the unit we can help it continue to grow
art buildings on the same site — an administration building with well into the future,” Councillor Constance said.
a dedicated training room including audio-visual tech and an “This is a really exciting project for the Arana Hills community
adjoining vehicle shed. and while I hope that we never need to use this facility to its full
The building was funded 40:60, with the Queensland potential, I have confidence that should the worst happen, our
Government putting $1.012 million towards the project and frontline volunteers will have a proper base to operate from.”
council allocating $1.717 million. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries
Mayor Allan Sutherland said the administration building would Mark Furner said the new facility would give Arana Hills SES
be named in honour of two long serving Arana Hills SES unit volunteers the space they needed to operate in times of crisis.
volunteers, Chris Arnott and Meg Garbutt. “The SES volunteers will have more room to move and that
“These are the outstanding, unsung heroes who put their means they can better prepare for emergency situations where
community first, time and time again,” Mayor Sutherland said. they make a lot of difference to local residents,” Mr Furner said.
“These are the people who kiss their families goodbye as the “I was proud to announce State Government funding for
dark clouds roll in and wade into deep, murky waters to rescue this project when I was the Local Government Minister, so it
the loved ones of others. means a lot to me to be able to see the finished article at the
“This is exactly the kind of grassroots community causes all official opening.”