State of the art Joint Emergency Services Coordination Centre unveiled for GC2018

A state-of-the-art multi-agency emergency coordination facility that will become the nerve centre of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) security operation will be fully tested this weekend during the Gold Coast 600.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the Joint Emergency Services Coordination Centre (JESCC) had been purpose-built by the Palaszczuk Government and would go on to be a significant legacy of the Commonwealth Games.

“In order to ensure the safest Games possible, it was vital to build a cutting edge, adaptable facility to deliver the safety response for GC2018. The JESCC is that facility and it will be a vital part of our safety and security operation here next year,” Minister Ryan said.

“The JESCC incorporates the latest technologies in incident and event management in an environment that is flexible and scalable and was recently completed after an 18-week construction period involving a major fit out.

'The JESCC’s construction was delivered on schedule, within budget and to its intended design due to the enormous collaborative effort involving police, partners from across the Public Safety Business Agency, the other emergency services and external contractors.

“In addition to the JESCC, a 24-hour police facility will operate inside the Games Village prior to the arrival of the athletes and for the duration of the Games.

“These facilities form an integral part of a comprehensive security overlay to help keep spectators and athletes alike safe during GC2018.”

Minister Ryan said the JESCC would be fully tested this weekend during the Gold Coast 600 supercars motor racing event in order to refine operability and coordination across the emergency services.

“While the JESCC is now complete, it is important to make sure that everything is working as it should – and the Gold Coast 600 this weekend provides police and other emergency services with the perfect opportunity to stand it up and test it out over a few days,” Minister Ryan said.

“Although the JESCC was primarily constructed for GC2018, it will remain as a permanent multi-agency facility to manage major events like the Gold Coast 600, smaller scale planned operations and critical incidents on the Gold Coast.

“A smaller-scale successful test of the JESCC was conducted during the Gold Coast marathon earlier this year and it will also be used during Schoolies Week.

“I am proud that the Palaszczuk Government has delivered the most significant GC2018 legacy for police and emergency services agencies on the Gold Coast.”

Commonwealth Games Group Assistant Commissioner Peter Crawford said that police visited a number of world-class facilities and undertook extensive consultation with several security agencies both here and overseas to ensure any newly-built facility could support an event of this magnitude.

“The purpose of the JESCC is to facilitate the command and control of police resources and enable the multi-agency coordination and response for GC2018 and Games-related events,” Assistant Commissioner Crawford said.

“It has real-time access to the latest security related information, that will ensure police and our partners have the most accurate information possible to inform and support our security response.”

The JESCC provides a workspace for over 50 people across its two levels.

With mobile workspaces, conference rooms fitted with multi-media networking facilities, a breakout room for incident management and the extensive use of operable walls to create flexible working environments on both floors, the JESCC is a highly configurable space.

It can be arranged to support multiple large-scale incidents as well as smaller event operations.

One of the most important features of the JESCC is an integrated system offering high speed connectivity to support multiple technologies and systems within the QPS and across other emergency service agencies.

The technology allows public safety agencies to readily use their own technology and IT in what is largely a wireless facility.

Media contacts

Minister Ryan’s Office:                                                                 Ph: (07) 3035 8300

Police Media:                                                                                  Ph: (07) 3015 2444