Emerald Ag College now home to Local Disaster Coordination Centre

A section of former Emerald Agricultural College building will serve as the Central Highlands’ new Local Disaster Coordination Centre.

Mayor Kerry Hayes said the centre was a practical and cost-effective solution that would improve the region’s emergency response capacity and ability to coordinate disasters.

‘With a fully operational setup, the Central Highlands Local Disaster Coordination Centre can now be activated on-demand and operate around the clock,’ Mayor Hayes said.

‘We have been advocating for funding for a new dedicated disaster centre for our region, but the availability of this site now will more than meet our requirements and free up space in the Egerton Street building.’

Mayor Hayes said the council’s COVID business continuity protocols required an appropriate separation of key decisionmakers from general staffing areas and the location was perfect for this scenario.

‘We have previously utilised the ag college site as an evacuation centre in flooding events.’

Council will be leasing the space with two permanent staff working from the building. Apart from the main coordination room, two offices, a boardroom and a kitchenette will be part of the centre. When activated, it will be able to hold around 25 people under current COVIDSafe requirements.

Mayor Hayes said the opportunity to move into this location has been very fortuitous.

‘We now have a fully refurbished centre that wasn’t an option previously and our council can defer the need to expend capital over the medium term and during these uncertain economic times.’