Two civil defence bases, new gear for Collingwood
The Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade hopes to raise $5000 from the community to assist with a planned $20,000 project to improve Collingwood’s capability to cope with a civil defence emergency.
“In the event of a civil defence emergency, Collingwood needs a level of preparedness that will enable communications and operations to be carried out at two bases: one at the fire station and the other at Collingwood Area School,” said station officer Sara Chapman. “There are a number of emergency scenarios that could render the fire station, and the township itself, inaccessible by road, or even inoperable.”
The civil defence project is to enable Collingwood district to maintain operational capability and reliable communications with the community, Golden Bay civil defence in Takaka and Nelson-Tasman civil defence.
Chief fire officer Miller and deputy chief fire officer Storer have determined that the area school is the best option for Collingwood’s second civil defence base.
“It’s because of the school’s physical location, the amount of land it has and the number of buildings that are suitable for multi-use, including evacuation shelters,” said Ms Chapman. “It also has good road and helicopter access.”
The brigade proposes to equip the community with a portable generator that can be operated from a power board at the fire station or the school, plus hand-held radios, satellite phones, and a civil defence base with local frequency communication capability. This will require the installation of a Nelson-Tasman civil defence antenna at the school. The equipment will be maintained, serviced and stored by the brigade and will be available to the civil defence crews at both bases in the event of a critical emergency.
The brigade has committed funds from its trust to the purchase of a generator, and is now seeking donations. The brigade aims to raise the balance of the $20,000 from major applications. The annual Sealord Fireworks Over Aorere show is the Saturday of Labour Weekend (24 October) and all donations collected then will be used for the purchase of equipment.
This plan is endorsed by Nelson Tasman Civil Defence, GB Civil Defence controller Roger Broadhurst, Takaka chief fire officer Phillip Woolf, councillor Noel Riley, the Emergency Communications Trust and the Collingwood Area School board of trustees. Neil Wilson
