Celebrating conversion of hall to 'safety place'
The Pearl Beach Progress Association has celebrated the completion of the conversion of its memorial community hall to become a "neighbourhood safety place" with the recent installation of a spearpoint pump.
The association received a $91,000 grant from the Australian Government's Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program for the upgrade.
The upgrade included the installation of active bushfire protection sprinklers, an independent water supply with 18 kilolitre steel rainwater tanks and the spearpoint pump, said project co-ordinator Mr Paul Toohey.
It now has a backup power supply with solar panels, batteries and generator giving reliable continuous power for more than 48 hours.
"The hall infrastructure includes an automated external defibrillator, first aid supplies, toilet washroom facilities, internet and phone and a functioning kitchen.
"Central Coast Bushfire Management Committee and NSW Rural Fire Service have approved the Hall as a Neighbourhood Safer Place."
Mr Toohey said: "The Association's hall project has successfully created a substantially more resilient last resort for residents to shelter if unable to evacuate from a major fire.
"The hall will also be an excellent resource in other catastrophic events such as major storms, road closures and power outages within the village.
"The hall project was designed, project managed and installed by community volunteers."
It is available for use by all NSW emergency services as a hub during a fire or storm when power is out in the village.
"We hope we won't have to use it, but if we do it will save lives."
He said around 120 of the 660 properties in the village directly abutted the National Park and all were within 500m of the bush.
Pictured are association members Mr Ben Kearney, Mr Paul Toohey and Mr Warren Greenway.
SOURCE:
Media release, 23 Apr 2024
Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association