Trunked Radio Network ACT Emergency Services Authority 2005 PMAA Results: ACT Community Benefit Award Email the Support Office or call (02) 8288 8700 for media and project enquiries.

ACT Emergency Services Authority – Trunked Radio Network
On the 19 August 2003 the ACT Chief Minister tabled the government response to the McLeod report which investigated the January 2003 Canberra bush fires, stating “The 2003/04 Budget also included funding for a feasibility study for a major upgrade of radio communications infrastructure.  It is estimated that the cost of this project will run into the tens of millions”  This feasibility study concluded that a trunked digital system was required to support the Emergency Services Authority and ACT Land Management agencies. A core project team drawn from defence material staff was assembled, this group brought with them defence’s project methodology and defence’s concept of deliver of complete capability not just systems.

There were two high priority requirements for the proposed capability:
- The first important requirement was for seamless interoperability with the NSW Government Radio Network which is managed by Telstra.
- The second was for operational status by 1st of September 2004 prior to commencement of the ACT fire season.

To meet these requirements, to lower risk and to contain costs, the team developed a proposal to fully integrate the NSW Government Radio Network with the new ACT Trunked Radio Network within the ACT. A procurement plan was prepared and presented to the ACT Procurement Unit and ACT Procurement Board who expedited endorsement. The plan documented the requirement to engage with Telstra, Motorola and the NSW Government to deliver this capability to the ACT. The prime contract between Telstra and the Emergency Services Authority was signed on the 28th July 2004.  The first components of the network went live on the 1st of September 2004, five weeks after contract signature. Full service went live on 17 November 2004, and since that time, with the exception of one planned maintenance outage of 10 minutes, the system has provided 100% network availability. Despite some scope creep this was achieved within original budget.

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