Rainbow Flat rises again

In November 2019 the Hillville fire ravaged 31,200 hectares of the Mid Coast and destroyed the modest single-storey Rainbow Flat Brigade station that had stood since 1982. Fourteen months later, a bright, new two-bay station has risen in its place.

Stuart Robb, District Officer Learning and Development for the Mid Coast District, was also the Public Liaison Officer during the Hillville fire. He says the new station is welcomed by the 33 Rainbow Flat Brigade members and the communities they serve.

“On the night of 8 November 2019 when the fire jumped the Pacific Highway and took out the station, crews were out working on other fires in the area and were unaware the station was threatened,” says Stuart.

“Sadly, a lot of important memorabilia such as trophies, pendants, photos and handwritten minutes were lost and damaged in the fire, but at least the brigade now has a new place to call home.”

The destroyed station in the aftermath of the Hillville fire in November 2019

Photo courtesy of NSW RFS Mid Coast

The new two-bay station (replacing the previous one-bay station) comes with a kitchen, change room and facilities, a meeting/training room and a larger capacity water supply. It is a welcome replacement of the demountable which was stationed on the site after the fires.

Robert Derbyshire, Captain of the Rainbow Flat Brigade, said the build took a little longer than usual thanks to the pandemic. Local tradies were stretched across the area working on home renovations and materials took longer to arrive from overseas.

“During the rebuild, the brigade’s Cat 7 tanker was stationed on a member’s property up the road, so it is great it now has a permanent home again,” says Robert.

With plenty of room, showers and space to meet and train, he said the team were delighted with their new digs.

Brigade members in front of the new station

Photo courtesy of NSW RFS Mid Coast

“It’s great,” says Robert. “It far exceeds what we had!”

Mid Coast District has been busy during an unusually quiet fire season, with the 2019/20 bush fires attracting more than 700 applicants keen to join (or re-join) the Service. From these, 300 new recruits have now been put through their training, with five new members and three transfers welcomed to Rainbow Flat Brigade this season.

The new station was funded by Mid Coast Council, NSW RFS and insurance, and was officially opened on 27 February 2021 at an event attended by Commissioner Rob Rogers, District staff and brigade members.

“This excellent new station is a modern, standalone, fit-for-purpose building that is greatly welcomed by the volunteers and the communities they serve,” said Commissioner Rogers.

“After a year operating out of a temporary demountable building and storing the brigade’s tanker on a neighbouring property, this new building is greatly welcomed and will assist with vehicle housing, training and the fighting of fires locally.”