Construction starts on Australian-first $18m Bushfire Centre of Excellence

Australia’s first-ever Bushfire Centre of Excellence facility is one step closer to reality with construction commencing on what is expected to become an internationally renowned hub for bushfire management learning and skills development.

The WA Government committed $18 million for the facility which will be a place for career officers, emergency service volunteers, bushfire practitioners, researchers, scientists and others to gather to share and learn from the best bushfire management practices and science.

The Centre, funded by the Emergency Services Levy, will run courses in bushfire prevention, management and training and have specialist indoor and outdoor training facilities, collaboration spaces, and an interpretive learning centre for the community to come and learn about bushfires.

A key focus of the Centre will also be developing a Traditional Fire Program, believed to be the first of its kind, which will explore traditional Indigenous mitigation and firefighting methods.

Locally based company Perkins Builders has been awarded the contract to build the Centre, which is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2020, at the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup.

The Bushfire Centre of Excellence team has already been operating since July 2019 at an interim facility at the Pinjarra Heritage Train Station and have introduced new training programs for career and volunteer officers.

Source: WA Government