Media Release: SES AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLE TRIAL BEGINS ON MID NORTH COAST

• NSW SES is trialling an amphibious Argo vehicle on the Mid North Coast to improve access to isolated communities during floods. 

• The vehicle will be tested for six months locally before moving to the Snowy Mountains in winter 2027. 

• Trial findings will help determine whether the ARGO could become part of the NSW SES fleet. 

Editor’s note: volunteer-filmed vision of the training available via Hightail - https://spaces.hightail.com/space/zIV80K79yj 

After experiencing recording flooding in 2025, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) will trial an amphibious ARGO extreme terrain vehicle to assess how it could enhance flood response in isolated communities in the Mid North Coast.  

The specialised eight-wheel vehicle will be based in the Mid North Coast for six months of a 12-month trial, helping NSW SES assess how it can improve response in flood-affected and hard-to-reach areas, before being tested in the Snowy Mountains during winter 2027.  

Training took place on Sunday 27 September with 10 members trained in how to operate the specialised asset. 

Northern Zone Commander Andrew Cribb said the Mid North Coast was the ideal location to test the new vehicle. 

"Communities across the Mid North Coast know the impacts of flooding, and it's great to see this new capability being tested to see if it could help during future weather emergencies," Chief Superintendent Cribb said. 

"The Argo can travel through water, boggy ground, marshes and other difficult terrain that can slow down conventional vehicles, helping us reach isolated communities more efficiently." 

"Over the next six months we will be putting the vehicle through a range of operational scenarios to better understand if it can make a difference in response capabilities during flood operations." 

Unlike a conventional side-by-side vehicle, the Argo can transition between land and water, floating when required and using its eight low-pressure tyres to propel itself through the water. It is designed to support flood operations in areas where access is limited, rather than replace rescue boats in deep floodwater. 

Mid North Coast Local Commander Lester Davis said local volunteers were proud to lead the state-first trial. 

"The Mid North Coast has experienced first-hand how quickly communities can become isolated during floods," Mr Davis said. 

"Having the opportunity to trial this vehicle here means we'll be able to see how it performs in the conditions our volunteers regularly face and whether it can strengthen the way we respond." 

Findings from the trial will help determine whether the capability has a future within the NSW SES fleet. 

The Argo vehicle is valued at $60,000, and it is accompanied by an $18,000 trailer.

Images

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NSW SES members trial new amphibious vehicle.

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