ACTAS General Manager of Operations, Rebecca Lundy, and ACTF&R Superintendent of Operations, Jim Walsh, opened the new ESA building in Acton. Photo: Nicholas Ward
With Acton’s new Emergency Services Station in full operation, the community is being invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility this weekend.
Firefighters and paramedics took over the brand new joint emergency centre building after it was completed in late June, with crews moving in over July.
In just three weeks of operation, the pair of services has already responded to over 845 incidents between them.
To celebrate its first month in operation, the station will be holding a community open day this weekend, inviting locals to see behind the scenes of emergency response.
On the Ambulance Service side of the facility, three bays are fitted out to service two ambulances at a time.
ACT Ambulance Service General Manager of Operations, Rebecca Lundy, praised the development as a strong tool for serving central Canberra.
“This has been a long time coming for us, this station. It’s great to see that it’s open. It’s our ninth station, and we’re very happy to be finally working out of it,” she said.
According to Ms Lundy, the new facility has some technology that is a first for stations in the ACT, including a climate-controlled ambulance bay that allows them to better protect critical medicines.
Ms Lundy said there are always a few learning curves when it comes to adjusting to a new building.
“It’s always nice to work out of a brand new facility,” said Ms Lundy.
“A couple of small things, as you would expect with the new build. But it’s been a really easy, smooth transfer for us.”
On the other side of the station are the Fire and Rescue facilities with three bays, dedicated decontamination showers, extraction fans, and importantly, a sizeable kitchen.
Fire and Rescue Superintendent Jim Walsh said that the new station had implemented new safety facilities to better protect firefighters from workplace hazards.
“When crews come back from a job and they’re still contaminated with a little bit of smoke, they can transition through a defined pathway, taking off their turnout equipment (their big yellow over pants and jackets) and then go into the rest of the station, which is kept clean, so no dirty boots, no dirty clothes. It’s just better for our ongoing health.”
The facility has also built a positive-pressure system within the building to prevent contaminants from entering the building.
Both sides of the Station come fitted out with small bedrooms, lounge areas, and – one of the most important rooms according to Mr Walsh – large communal kitchens.
The kitchen, he said, was vital to building camaraderie and preserving the morale of the firefighters during their long and often difficult shifts.
With the first ever crew settling into the station over July and August, Mr Walsh said that they were quickly making the facility home.
“The crews are really enjoying working out of a new purpose-built station,” he said.
The building cost $40.32 million. It is one of several new facilities planned for Canberra as part of the city’s expansion plans.
The next major ESS facility scheduled to open is the $65 million Molonglo Emergency Services Station, which is on track to be completed by mid-2026.
To celebrate the opening, the ESS is holding a community open day this Sunday, 31 August, between 10 am and 2 pm. Those interested in attending can register at Eventbrite.
