Background

In 2003 the Newlands community successfully fought for the survival of their Volunteer Fire Brigade. Since then there has been continued development of community based initiatives designed to prepare for and respond to emergencies in the immediate area.

The most recent initiative has been the establishment of a charitable trust to build a community resource centre to house the Newlands Volunteer Fire Brigade, emergency response vehicle, emergency response team, local civil defence and community patrol, as well as provide a space for the training and meeting of volunteers involved in those and similar activities.

At present the Newlands Volunteer Fire Brigade are operating out of a WWII era building on Newlands Road. This building has well outlived its useful life and is in drastic need of extensive capital investment to bring it up to an acceptable operational standard. Not only are the facilities woefully inadequate, the building itself is too small to house a modern urban fire appliance. At present, all other community emergency groups within the area do not have a common meeting place and liaison between the groups is difficult.

With the current and proposed growth in housing and light industry within the northern suburbs, it is essential that the Newlands community have a modern and up-to-date building to house its Volunteer Fire Brigade and other community emergency groups.

The proposed Volunteer Emergency Resource Centre will become the focal point for the community's emergency management before, during and after a disaster.

Mission

To bring together all Newlands community emergency response groups in a modern, purpose built centre.