New vehicles to support disaster response across regional NSW

DISASTER response and recovery operations will be strengthened as the NSW Government delivers new emergency vehicles across the state.

The vehicles are part of the Government’s fleet replacement program, ensuring NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have the latest, purpose-built equipment.

Included in this year’s flood rescue fleet upgrades are 10 new High Clearance Vehicles with cranes and specialised equipment worth $800,000 each and 11 light flood rescue Land Cruisers valued at $270,000 each.

The government says the addition of these vehicles to the NSW SES fleet across regional parts of the state will increase volunteers’ ability to access isolated communities and perform critical rescues during flooding.

NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnson said the vehicles represent a “significant step forward in our flood and disaster response capability”.

“We’ve worked closely with our volunteers and technical experts to ensure these designs meet the realities of field operations – whether that’s wading through more than a metre of floodwater, navigating fire trails, or delivering supplies to communities cut off by floodwaters,” Johnson said.

“This investment brings our total number of high clearance vehicles to 20 and means our dedicated members will be able to work more safely and effectively when the next emergency comes.”

Built at Alexander Perrie & Co at Port Kembla in the Illawarra, the new 4WD flood rescue vehicles are designed with enhanced offroad capability, and have a custom-built body for flood rescue equipment, as well as integrated stowage for inflatable flood rescue rafts.

These vehicles are now being delivered to SES units in Wyong, Kiama, Tamworth, Ballina, Yamba, Orange, Forbes and Sydney.

The high clearance vehicles are designed to operate in extreme off-road conditions and through floodwaters up to 1.2 metres deep, enabling SES crews to deliver essential supplies, complete rescues, and support other emergency services in remote and hard-to-reach locations.

The delivery of the new vehicles comes as SES crews responded to more than 59,000 incidents in the past 12 months, an 24,500 increase from the previous 12-month period, in what has been the busiest year since 2022.

High clearance vehicles will be delivered across the state, including to areas recently impacted by flooding, such as Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour and Taree.

Others will be operational throughout Ku-ring-gai, Broken Hill, Goulburn, Moruya, Forbes and Dubbo.