Established in 2006, the State Operations Centre has become the operational heartbeat of the NSW SES, providing a central point for coordinating responses to floods, storms, rescue incidents, land search, and other emergencies in every corner of NSW.
Over the past two decades, teams working from the centre have supported responses to some of NSW’s most significant emergencies, including major flood events, severe east coast lows, widespread storm emergencies, Tropical Cyclone Alfred, bushfire support operations and large-scale search and rescue operations.
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM said the milestone was an opportunity to recognise the thousands of volunteers and staff who have worked from or supported operations from the centre.
“The State Operations Centre is where the statewide response comes together when severe weather and other emergencies threaten our communities,” Commissioner Wassing said.
“Every SES response starts with a call to the centre, and behind the scenes requires an enormous amount of planning, intelligence and coordination happening right here in Wollongong.
“Our teams monitor forecasts, analyses intelligence from across the state, assess where communities may be impacted and helps inform decisions about where to position resources before, during and after emergency incidents.
The State Operations Centre operates around the clock, bringing together radio taskings, operations, intelligence, logistics, aviation coordination, public information, planning and interagency liaison.
It is also where calls to the NSW SES 132 500 service are received and tasked to units across the state, while members in the field can provide intelligence and request additional assistance.
Commissioner Wassing said while technology and emergency management had changed a lot over the past 20 years, the commitment of the people working within it had not.
“Thousands of volunteers and staff have worked tirelessly, often through the night, on weekends, public holidays and away from their families, to support communities when they need us most,” he said.
“As incidents unfold, the SOC coordinates support between local units, moves specialist capabilities where they are needed and ensures our volunteers have the equipment, information and support they need to keep communities safe.”
Acting NSW SES State Operations Manager, Nicole Harding worked in the centre when it first opened in 2006.
“When we started here 20 years ago, the technology was very different and the way we managed information was different, but the purpose was always about bringing together the right information, the right people and the right resources to support communities,” Ms Harding said.
“We now have sophisticated intelligence systems, live incident mapping, improved communications and public warning capabilities, embedded hydrologists and meteorologists, and a much clearer real-time picture of what is happening right across the state.
“While we take calls from people needing help on their worst days, what stands out to me most is that people and volunteers are still at the heart of everything we do.”
