Alan Hawke, Sean O’Brian and Alan Radford use the new facility              Picture Lauren Pilat
Camera IconAlan Hawke, Sean O’Brian and Alan Radford use the new facility              Picture Lauren Pilat Credit: Supplied/Supplied

New Bayswater SES Training Facility

Lauren PilatEastern Reporter

Completed last week, the facility was funded by the City of Bayswater and funds raised by SES members.

Councillor and SES committee member Alan Radford said previously SES volunteers had to train on their own roofs or find owners of homes to be demolished and willing to let them train on them.

“Other than providing a useful shelter, the two sides of the roof are at differing pitch angles, to recreate different roofs found in our city,” he said.

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“In addition there are four different roof materials used, two on each side; an excellent structure for providing a variety of training conditions.”

Project co-ordinator Ash Smith said the facility allowed Bayswater SES to be at the forefront of storm damage training in the state.

“Our volunteer members can now practise their skills in a safe environment and be observed by competent and experienced members as mentors,” he said.

“It allows for realistic scenarios to be set up for the volunteers.

“We will also be able to assist other SES units in their training by allowing them to have access to this facility.”

Cr Radford also initiated a partnership between Bayswater SES and Durham Road School so volunteers now have access to a secure car park on Department of Education land next door.

Mr Smith said it allowed volunteers a sense of security when out protecting their community because they did not have to worry about their car and could concentrate on the job at hand. The shared car park cost of $30,000 is funded partially by the City and the Department of Education.

The storm damage training facility will be officially opened in coming months.