Pressure is mounting for the Allan Labor Government to provide funding to rebuild the Foster and Mirboo North fire stations.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said the need for the new stations has been known for a very long time and it was past time for the Minister for Emergency Services to put the money on the table.
“I understand that a lease arrangement has finally been signed off on for Foster CFA to build on a new site, which is on former railway land in Foster,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This is great news – I know that Captain David Jones and his volunteers have been waiting for this for many years, but it is only a small step that cannot progress without Labor delivering the much-needed funds to facilitate the construction of a new station.”
Mr O’Brien said Mirboo North CFA was in the same boat with the need for a rebuild being acknowledged for a long time and even promises made, but to date no funding provided.
“Captain Trent Venten and the team there at Mirboo North have had promises made – in fact we celebrated before the last election as the CFA gave advice that they were providing capital funding, but the money has been nowhere to be seen in subsequent budgets.”
Mr O’Brien said apart from the need to bring them up to modern standards there are clear OH&S concerns with both of these brigades have trouble literally getting the trucks that they have into the stations.
“You can go to either side of the folding doors and see the chips on the brickwork, because the trucks simply do not fit.
“Indeed, both brigades are limited in the trucks that they can get because some of the newer trucks simply will not fit in their outdated and very old stations.”
Mr O’Brien said our CFA volunteers need and deserves better from the Allan Labor Government.
“We urgently need funding for both of these stations, and I urge the Minister to ensure it is provided as quickly as possible.”