newy.com.au – Tomago manufacturer Varley Group has secured an order for 40 NSW Rural Fire Service tankers, adding to work on 20 Fire and Rescue NSW vehicles, including trucks bound for Dungog and East Maitland.
The work forms part of a NSW Government investment of more than $40 million in fire trucks and support vehicles during 2026-27, spread across several manufacturers.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said the Varley work would support 530 local jobs in the Hunter.
Work on the RFS order is set to begin, covering 25 Category 7 tankers and 15 Category 1 tankers. Both types are used to fight bush and grass fires, while Category 1 tankers are among the largest water carrying trucks in the RFS fleet.
Varley is also delivering 20 Fire and Rescue NSW vehicles, including pumpers and bushfire tankers. The trucks destined for Dungog and East Maitland were among the vehicles on the assembly line inspected by Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and Ms Washington during a visit to the Tomago facility.
“Manufacturing fire engines here in the Hunter supports local jobs and delivers the equipment our firefighters need to protect communities across NSW,” Mr Dib said.
Fire and Rescue NSW Operational and Strategic Services Executive Director Kelly McFadyen said the service selected chassis suited to Australian conditions, then worked with Varley to design and fit out the engines with specialist equipment and technology.
“When delivered, we also fit our vehicles with their own WiFi so satellite technology is in place to help our crews stay connected in areas with limited radio coverage,” Ms McFadyen said.
The government said the investment followed the delivery of more than 200 new firefighting vehicles and 75 refurbished vehicles to RFS brigades in 2025-26.
