NT Govt upgrading critical infrastructure for emergency comms

The Northern Territory Government has announced a $6.6 million investment to upgrade critical infrastructure at the Joint Emergency Services Communications Centre (JESCC) and CCTV Unit at the Peter McAulay Centre. An additional $9.5 million over three years — and $1.5 million ongoing — will deliver vital technology and systems upgrades to support the enhanced operations of the centre.

The investment is set to boost the Northern Territory Police Force’s emergency response capabilities by modernising critical communications infrastructure and expanding digital technology used to coordinate frontline policing and monitor crime. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the upgrade would ensure the Territory’s core emergency communications systems are fit for purpose and future-ready.

“This is about giving police the tools they need to respond faster, smarter and stronger,” Finocchiaro said.

“Last year, we saw more than 380,000 calls to the JESCC and on any given day, its call-takers handled on average more than 940 calls per day.

“We are investing in the backbone of emergency coordination and surveillance because when seconds count, technology matters.”

The new project will:

• upgrade and relocate essential digital technology to increase capacity and resilience;
• improve the reliability and capability of dispatch systems used by NT Police;
• enhance the critical infrastructure supporting the JESCC and Government Data Centre; and
• expand the operations of the CCTV Unit to improve crime prevention and real-time monitoring.
   

The communications centre is a vital hub for coordinating Territory-wide emergency response, including police, fire and ambulance services. The upgrade addresses longstanding infrastructure risks and should ensure the Territory has a robust, secure platform to support community safety now and into the future.

“We are restoring law and order with the strongest bail laws in the country, a record police budget, and the digital infrastructure to match,” Finocchiaro said.

In addition to the $6.6 million upgrade at the JESCC in Berrimah, the government is allocating a further $2 million to boost emergency communications in Central Australia. This funding will support the establishment of a pilot Police Communications Centre in Alice Springs, aimed at enhancing local coordination and support for police operations in Central Australia.

The new centre will focus on call taking and CCTV monitoring for the Alice Springs and Barkly regions, complementing existing capability at JESCC in Darwin. The six-month pilot will help assess whether a regionally based model improves response coordination, situational awareness, and outcomes for the community.

Image credit: iStock.com/Kirsten Walla