Emergency services personnel are to have access to a new world-class training facility with the launch of Fire and Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) Practical Learning Environment in Western Sydney.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new $19 million training facility was designed to challenge the skills of first responders to ensure they were prepared to help the community in the event of an emergency.
“The safety of the people of NSW is our number one priority and this new training facility will help prepare our emergency services for all scenarios,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Access to state-of-the-art props and resources is essential to improving the hands-on training of all first responders,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the Practical Learning Environment consisted of an urban search and rescue scene with an underground train tunnel; a service station prop; a live fire facility; and a five-storey tower with a variety of fire and rescue scenarios.
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said each prop was specifically designed to enhance capabilities from fire and rescue to natural disaster and humanitarian relief.
“Our academy is a world-class resource that will ensure our first responders have access to life-saving practical training,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“Within each prop there are real life scenarios from hazardous materials spills, to road crash rescues and factory fires which will test the skills and knowledge of our firefighters,” he said.
Commissioner Baxter said the next stage of the project would see the construction of a residential home, a streetscape and a train station scenario with a railway track and platform for rescue demonstrations.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott said all emergency services Agencies are to have shared access to the new facility.
