A new $3.3 million NSW Rural Fire Service station has officially opened at Catherine Field, delivering a major boost to emergency response capabilities in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing regions.
“It’s great to have the brigade home in Catherine Field where they can continue to operate from the heart of the community it has protected for generations,” Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said during a tour of the new facility with Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin.
Replacing the brigade’s decades-old station, the purpose-built facility has been designed to support volunteers well into the future, with three fire truck bays, dedicated training and meeting rooms, modern amenities and enhanced operational spaces.
Hagarty said the brigade’s role had never been more important as development continues across the southwest.
“The Catherine Field Brigade has a proud history of serving the local community and responds to a wide range of incidents each year, including bush and grass fires, structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, storm damage and other emergencies,” he said.
The opening forms part of a broader investment in emergency services infrastructure, with more than $34.5 million allocated this financial year to upgrade 28 RFS stations and Fire Control Centres across NSW as part of a wider $716.4 million investment in the Rural Fire Service.
Minister Dib said the new station would ensure local volunteers had the facilities needed to protect the community for decades to come.
“This new station is a significant investment in community safety and will provide local volunteers with the facilities they need to train, prepare and respond effectively to emergencies,” he said.
“Catherine Field is one of the fastest-growing areas in Sydney, and we’re making sure that emergency service infrastructure keeps pace with that growth.”
For Commissioner Curtin, the project is about more than bricks and mortar.
“For decades, Catherine Field Brigade members operated from the former station on this site, serving their community through countless emergencies,” he said.
“While that station served the brigade well, it had reached the end of its operational life and no longer met the needs of a growing brigade.”
Curtin said the new facility would support training, operational readiness and volunteer wellbeing while recognising the contribution local firefighters make every day.
“This station is not just an investment in infrastructure; it is an investment in our volunteers and the vital role they play in keeping their communities safe,” he added.
As thousands of new residents move into Leppington and surrounding suburbs, Hagarty said the brigade would remain at the heart of community safety.
“As Leppington and the surrounding suburbs continue to grow, the Catherine Field Brigade will remain a vital part of our community, helping keep local families, homes and businesses safe,” he said.
