Upper Lachlan Shire Council's Emergency Operations Centre will receive funding to upgrade the facility under the Federal Government's Preparing Australian Communities Program.  

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said this program is the first tranche of the Preparing Australia Program, a $600 million investment by the Federal Government over six years to build the nation's resilience to natural disasters.  

"We are providing $67,480 to upgrade the IT equipment at the Emergency Operations Centre on McIntosh Road in Crookwell to ensure it is well equipped to respond to the local community's needs in times of fire and flood," Mr Taylor said. 

"In this region, it's important that we are prepared with the right tools and equipment in place to strengthen the local response when natural disasters occur and ensure emergency responders have all that they need to protect people and property as best they can." 

In delivering this program, the Australian Government increases disaster preparedness and resilience and reduces the cost in time and money for recovery following future disasters.    

Upper Lachlan Shire Council Mayor Pam Kensit welcomed the announcement. 

“Council is committed to assisting our emergency services and local communities to have access to infrastructure and resources required for future emergencies across the Shire. A review of our EOC facilities after the Black Summer Bushfires indicated our communications equipment, internet connection and power supply were substandard.  

“The proposed IT Upgrade to our Emergency Operations Centre will bring our facilities into the 21^st century, reduce the risk and improve the resilience of our community against future bushfires and natural disasters.”   

For more information and a full list of projects funded under Round One of the Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local stream, visit https://recovery.gov.au/disaster-risk-reduction/preparing-australia-program.