In the past, the region's closest SES units have been based at Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Castlemaine, and help was always delayed.

SES Midwest regional manager Stephen Warren said the new unit and its $1.3 million State Government-funded headquarters on the corner of Midland Hwy and Central Springs Rd meant response times to call-outs would be reduced dramatically.

Recognising a need for an SES unit in the shire, community members met 19 months ago and more than 20 people were recruited as volunteers.

They have been responding to call-outs for more than 12 months, but without a fixed-operations centre.

Volunteers began moving into their new headquarters last month and this week will operate out of it full-time, responding to storm, flood and earthquake call-outs in their new command area stretching from Malmsbury and Castlemaine to Newlyn, Blackwood and Trentham.

"Say if someone has storm damage to their house, the response time is going to be cut back by hours," Mr Warren said said.

CFA and ambulance crews would also have more support than ever before.

"SES is support to CFA during the fires," Mr Warren said.

"SES is part of the emergency services and it's completing the picture here to have everyone (together)."

The headquarters is to form part of an emergency services hub at the site.

The ambulance service is to move into a new headquarters next door and in coming years the police service is expected also to move its base to the precinct.

SES volunteers unit controller David Wellings said it would allow emergency services to work together and share not only resources but local knowledge too.