Western Australia's Bushfire Centre of Excellence has officially established operations in the Shire of Murray.
With designs progressing for the permanent facility within the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup, centre staff have set up an interim facility at the Heritage Train Station building in Pinjarra.
Representatives from the Murray and Peel business sectors, state and volunteer emergency services as well as other state and local government agencies, joined staff at the interim facility on Monday, December 9 to celebrate the milestone.
Among attendees was Premier Mark McGowan, minister for emergency services Francis Logan and member for Murray-Wellington Robyn Clarke, who had been touring the district since Sunday as part of community cabinet meeting arrangements.
Shire of Murray president David Bolt said the networking event identified opportunities for support and collaboration.
"As a centre of excellence, the facility is an important enabler for building a knowledge economy for Murray, the Peel region and state and ensuring a sustainable future," Mr Bolt said.
"Construction and operation will stimulate Murray's economy through expenditure and job creation and representatives from around the state will travel to the district to participate in the centre's training programs, which will result in increased spending on goods and services including short-stay accommodation and food and beverage.
"Synergies with the Shire's Agri-Innovation Precinct are also being optimised to realise greater efficiencies across the two projects."
Bushfire Centre of Excellence chief superintendent John Tillman said he was pleased to see the team come together in the interim facility.
"It's great to be operating close to where the final Centre of Excellence facility will take shape in the Peel Business Park," he said.
"In doing so we're strengthening our local partnerships and supporting statewide training and engagement opportunities from the region well ahead of final building completion."
The Bushfire Centre of Excellence facility in the Peel Business Park is scheduled to open in December 2020.
For further information visit dfes.wa.gov.au/bushfirecoe
