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The official opening of the Batemans Bay State Emergency Services operations centre on Tuesday was a pleasant finale to the hectic activity of members during the recent flooding.

Batemans Bay unit controller Wayne Binder said volunteers responded to 132 requests over two days, and added that their response time would improve in the Bay area.

Mr Binder said the Batemans Bay SES shed would be operational by the end of March, and that 11 new volunteers are about to sign on.

Batemans Bay deputy unit controller David Bridgford and Mr Binder agreed that having the new shed closer to the Bay brought many benefits.

“It gives the Batemans Bay community more ownership,” Mr Binder said.

“If a crisis happens, they know we’re here.”

But the community will not be the only beneficiaries. Mr Binder said the volunteers were more than excited to have the Batemans Bay shed up and running.

“We seem to be getting a lot more people interested in volunteering now the Batemans Bay shed will be operating, which has to do with not travelling to Moruya (for jobs),” he said.

After he inspected flood damage around the shire on Tuesday and declared the Eurobodalla Shire a natural disaster area, NSW Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan attended the official opening of the shed.

Mr Whan said the shed was funded by $136,000 from council for refurbishment, and $191,000 from the State Government for two flood boats, a storm trailer, two vehicles and communications equipment.