Fly-through provides glimpse into the Bushfire Centre of Excellence

An animated fly-through video of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services state-of-the-art Bushfire Centre of Excellence is now available.

The virtual tour takes viewers through the entire facility to showcase the extensive training facilities, open-plan office layouts and the surrounding landscape.

Chief Superintendent Bushfire Centre of Excellence John Tillman said the fly-through is an exciting insight into the space that is currently being built in the Peel Business Park, located in the Shire of Murray.

“It’s great to see the building come to life” Chief Superintendent Tillman said.

“The facility design has been a collaborative process involving the local Bindjareb community, Shire of Murray, Volunteer Associations and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,” Chief Superintendent Tillman said.

“The facility will be an inviting and stimulating space that encourages visitors to stay beyond a scheduled training course or workshop. This video is just a glimpse of what to expect.”

The building has been designed in a boomerang-shape and will be a shared learning hub for all bushfire management stakeholders and community members.

Building materials and landscaping have been carefully considered to reflect Australian Aboriginal and local heritage and includes curved natural rammed earth walls in the central foyer resembling a river mouth.

The landscaped areas will provide unique spaces including an auditorium, yarning circle and fire pit for visitors to gather, network and learn. The grounds will be planted to reflect fire design guidelines, local vegetation and landforms of the region.

Information, both written and visual, on the traditional and contemporary fire story will feature throughout the building and landscaped areas.

The Centre will be situated next to the Shire of Murray’s Agri-Innovation Precinct which will boast laboratories, production facilities, offices, warehousing, café and public presentation areas and more.

Shire of Murray President Cr. David Bolt said the Bushfire Centre of Excellence and Agri-Innovation Precinct will be world-class and establish best practice for the State.

“The Shire of Murray and the Bushfire Centre of Excellence have worked closely to optimise synergies between the Centre and the Precinct,” Cr. Bolt said.

“The Centre and Precinct will have coordinated orientation of buildings, landscaping and joint parking areas.”

Completion of the Bushfire Centre of Excellence is on track for the end of 2020.

View the fly-through video here.

For more information email BushfireCoE@dfes.wa.gov.au or visit dfes.wa.gov.au/bushfirecoe.