The Mayor of Parkes Cr Ken Keith OAM today welcomed the news that the New South Wales State budget has allocated money for a new fire station in Parkes. Cr Keith said the he would like to thank the NSW Government for the $250,000 allocated in the State Government’s 2016/17 budget. “It is a great step forward for the project which will include the purchasing of land as well as building the station. The total cost of the project is just over $1 million.”
The current fire station has served the community for over for over 90 years, having being built in 1924. The current building is at the end of its serviceable life and no longer complies with contemporary standards in regarding’s to WHS, training and accessibility.
“The Council has been lobbying the NSW Government for a number of years for funding for this important project and it was wonderful to see it emerge as a capital expenditure item. I would like to thank the Deputy Premier Troy Grant MP and our former State Member for Orange Mr Andrew Gee as well as Minister for Emergency Services David Elliot for their support on this project.”
“Parkes is a progressive community, Council is optimistic about the future of Parkes. We see the potential for strong residential growth underpinned by the mining, agriculture and logistics sectors. With growth comes the need for additional community services such as health care, policing and fire services. It has been very encouraging that over the last few years the NSW State Government has invested in the growth of Parkes with the new $72.5 million hospital, new $13 million Police Station, and strong financial support through grants for vital infrastructure projects such as the new Water and Sewer treatment plants and road upgrades” Cr Keith concluded.