The Riverina Zone encompasses a diverse range of agricultural and urban areas, incorporating the districts of Coolamon, Junee, Lockhart and Wagga Wagga. From the mountain foothills of the east to the expansive western plains, agricultural production includes cereals, oilseeds, sheep, cattle and irrigation farming. Wagga Wagga is the state’s largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural
, military, education and transport hub, providing commercial and recreational services to the wider region. The Riverina Zone has primary fire fighting responsibility and all the small towns and villages across the 4 Districts including; Ardlethan, Beckom, Bethungra, Collingullie, Currawarna, Ganmain, Forest Hill, Humula, Illabo, Ladysmith, Mangoplah, Marrar, Matong, Milbrulong, Old Junee, Oura, Pleasant Hills, San Isadore, Tarcutta, The Rock, Uranquinty, Wantabadgery, Yerong Creek as well as all rural land outside of the town limits of Coolamon, Junee, Lockhart and Wagga where Fire and Rescue NSW are responsible. At times both fire services are required to work together to keep the community protected. There are several major creek systems that transverse the Zone and the Murrumbidgee River also flows through the Zone and as such at times of flooding our brigades assist SES to protect homes particularly where they are already cut off from assistance. There are several main highways which transverse the Zone. They are the Newell Highway which runs north/south along the western edge. The Hume Highway running north/south along the eastern edge and the Sturt Highway runs east/west through the middle of the Zone. Olympic Highway runs through the Zone in a north/south direction turning easterly just before Junee. Unfortunately this requires our members to attend many motor vehicle accidents right across the Zone. The main Sydney to Melbourne railway line also runs through the Zone, following a similar path to the Olympic Highway. The Zone currently has just over 2200 members in its 67 rural fire brigades, including an aviation brigade located at Wagga Regional Airport. The Riverina Zone has an enthusiastic Community Engagement group that delivers the Kid’s Firewise programme to a number of schools as well as Community Engagement services to a number of community groups annually. The Riverina Zone Fire Control Centre located at 208 Fernleigh Road Wagga Wagga is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
