The members are hoping to move before Australia Day after Camden Council agreed last week to allow the SES to use the building on Queen Street as their new headquarters.

Camden SES controller Phil Murray said the new headquarters, located next to the council administration offices, would mean faster response times and better resources for the volunteers.

A surge in member numbers in the past year means the SES has outgrown its current home in John Street, Camden.

``We're still keeping the Camden unit operational,'' Mr Murray said.

``There will be a vehicle still based here, a flood boat and storm trailer everything the local community needs.

``The good thing with expanding is we can get our second flood boat so we'll have one on either side of the river.''

Mr Murray said the SES was moving from a headquarters with 50 square metres of floor space to one with 100 square metres.

``In the next five years we'll be looking for a purpose-built facility,'' he said.

``We're currently scouting locations around the Oran Park precinct [of the South West Growth Centre].

``It is centrally located in the Camden LGA, and will become a primary SES headquarters down the track for anywhere up to 65 members including paid and voluntary staff.''

Mr Murray said the Narellan and Camden buildings would remain satellite units when that happened.