The ACT government has announced $2.7 million in funding for a new purpose-built State Emergency Service station in Tuggeranong.
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Announcing the money as part of the government's upcoming budget, Emergency Services Minister Simon Corbell said the station would better equip the territory's volunteers to respond to extreme weather events.
"The SES is one of our busiest volunteer services and increasingly they're dealing with more and more extreme storm and flood events," he said.
"[The station] will allow them to base themselves in the heart of Tuggeranong Valley, closer to the community they're serving and importantly provide them with modern facilities."
He said the station would act as a base for emergency responses, support for community events and community education about natural hazards.
SES chief officer Conrad Barr praised the location of the new building, strategically located in the Tuggeranong Valley and near lakes and waterways.
He said the new facility would house four-wheel-drives, specialist storm response equipment and a flood rescue boat.
"This will be the first purpose-built State Emergency Service facility in the ACT for a very long time so it's a great thing for the Tuggeranong community, great thing for our volunteers," he said.
"[The government's] recognising the fantastic value that SES volunteers commit to our community. There are thousands upon thousands of hours contributed for free, through the goodness and motivation of the hearts of our volunteers and the government's encouraging and supporting [that]."
Member for Brindabella Mick Gentleman said it was important to him to see grassroots input into the station's planning right from the beginning.
"It's exciting to have it coming to South Tuggeranong, and exciting to have the first planned SES unit down here in Calwell," he said.
It's hoped the new facilities will encourage more volunteers into the service.
Currently, the 35 volunteers at Tuggeranong ACTSES work out of the workshop section of the Kambah ACT Fire and Rescue station.
Building on the site, on Johnson Drive in Calwell next to an existing ACT Ambulance station, is due to start next year.
A new Fire and Rescue station was opened in South Tuggeranong in 2015.
The ACT budget will be handed down on June 7.
