RFS to watch over airport

DEVELOPMENT approval has been given for the $2.5 million Rural Fire Service Control Centre to be located at the Albion Park Regional Airport.

Acting as a base for the Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong RFS crews, Shellharbour City Council Director of Operations and Services, Arthur Webster said construction would start just before Christmas with the project to be finished around next August.

Oak Flats RFS will be the only crew to base both themselves and their equipment at the new facility, with the new control centre acting as a command base for the entire region's rural fire fighters.

"It is actually quite a needed facility," Mr Webster said. "Both Kiama and Wollongong are operating out of old small houses and this will bring the three commands together making fighting fires easier for all concerned.

"It will be a huge advantage for all the crews to be working together and the airport is a pretty central spot, it is basically located at the intersection of all three major roads leading to each area."

Closer access to many of the fire fighting planes and helicopters on offer at the airport will also provide another advantage to the local RFS according to Mr Webster with the director saying the higher presence of the three crews should offer a large boost for the community.

"If there is a major fire or problem at the airfield it will be a major bonus to have the RFS on hand to help the state services as well," he said. "The command centre is basically there to try and simplify things and to help the RFS make it as easy and effective as possible for themselves in fighting major fires."