New emergency facility officially named

Collie’s new Department of Fire and Emergency Services facility has been officially named the Koolinup Emergency Services Centre. The first sod was turned at the site on Tuesday by Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan and Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray, with construction on the $13.4 million facility set to get under way. Koolinup is the Aboriginal word for the area around the Collie townsite. Mr Logan said the name and the site were significant and were both chosen in conjunction with the community. “The State Government liaised extensively with the local indigenous community to select the site for this new centre, which has fittingly been given the Aboriginal name for Collie,” he said. The centre will house an emergency driver training school to be utilised not only by DFES, but other State Government volunteers and staff as well. Up to 70 emergency services vehicles from across the State will also be relocated to Collie.