New $330,000 FRNSW zone office opens at Maitland
Published: 19th October 2011
Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore joined Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) Assistant Commissioner Mark Brown to officially open FRNSW’s new Metropolitan North 3 headquarters at Maitland today.
The new zone office oversees administration of 15 fire stations in the region, from Nelson Bay in the east, to Branxton in the west and Morpeth and Cessnock to the north and south, respectively.
FRNSW Assistant Commissioner Brown, Director of Metropolitan Operations, said zone headquarters staff had previously been working from converted accommodation above Maitland Fire Station.
“The new headquarters is a $330,000 investment to provide staff with a modern and purpose-built workplace from which to run our regional operations,” Assistant Commissioner Brown said.
“It was also my great pleasure today to present two staff members, Deborah Gorman and Felicity Harnden, with Long Service and Good Conduct medals for each of their 12 years’ service to FRNSW.”
Lower Hunter Zone Commander, Superintendent Greg Windeatt, said fire and rescue officers had also prepared a time capsule to bury at today’s opening.
“It includes various FRNSW (and former NSW Fire Brigades) memorabilia, a copy of the Newcastle Herald which featured coverage of the Australian Parliament’s historic passing of the Carbon Tax, photographs of current staff and information on why we moved the zone office and the current issues facing fire services,” Superintendent Windeatt said.
“It also includes a note wishing our future zone management all the very best.”