More than 30 volunteers sign up to new Gawler SES Unit

19 November 2024

Unit to increase SES service delivery to Northern Adelaide area and support other emergency services.

SES South Region Commander Dave O’Shannessy, SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie, SES Deputy Chief Officer Liz Connell, SES Northern Adelaide District Officer Wayne Palmer, SES Manager Operations Support Andrea Geytenbeek and SES Regional Operations Coordinator Stefanie Zakrzewski at the site of the new Gawler SES Unit.

More than 30 new volunteers have already signed up to join the new SES Gawler Unit at Willaston.

Construction of the new unit began on November 1, and it expected to be completed by the middle of 2025.

Located on the corner of Gawler River and Two Wells roads, the new unit will increase SES service delivery to the Northern Adelaide area while providing key support to neighbouring units and other emergency services.

The establishment of the SES Gawler Unit followed a review of response taskings and volunteer workload in the Greater Metropolitan Adelaide area undertaken by the SES, which identified Gawler as a high-growth area in the short to medium term

It will become part of the Northern Adelaide District along with the Campbelltown, Eastern Suburbs, Enfield, Salisbury and Tea Tree Gully SES units, and the Dog Operations Unit. unit

The new unit will include an operations building featuring a large training room that can also function as an Incident Control Centre, three offices, a communications room, kitchen and welfare facilities.

An appliance building will include two SES engine bays, a lockable storeroom, change rooms, accessible bathroom and laundry area.

Externally there will be a sand bagging distribution structure, outdoor training and emergency staging area and carparks for SES personnel as well as visitor and disability parking.

A recruitment drive for volunteers to join the new SES Gawler Unit in September was met with strong local community support with more than 30 new volunteers currently undertaking training.

Ten experienced SES volunteers from the neighbouring Salisbury Unit will also transfer to the new Gawler Unit.

SES Chief Officer Chris Beattie said that the Gawler area has been admirably serviced by the Kapunda and Salisbury SES units.

“However, with Gawler identified as a high-growth area over the coming years the need for a new unit in Gawler became very clear,” Mr Beattie said.

“We have had terrific interest and support from the Gawler community to join the new unit and we look forward to working with the local community going forward.”

If people are interested in volunteering, contact the South Australian State Emergency Service or call 1300 364 587.