The Allan Labor Government needs to explain why it will take nearly five years to build a small rural fire station at Winnindoo.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said he is growing increasingly frustrated at the bureaucratic delays affecting projects in Gippsland and elsewhere in Victoria.
The Winnindoo Fire Brigade, between Rosedale and Heyfield, was successful in winning funding for a new fire station in the 2020 Budget and yet volunteers have been told it will be late 2025 before the station is built.
“We ran a strong local community campaign to get funding for the Winnindoo Fire Brigade which is currently operating out of a tin shed with no toilets, a portaloo out the back and no change rooms for male or female volunteers,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Local farmer and brigade volunteer John Hooper has donated land for the new station and it was funded in the November 2020 State Budget.
“It is just unfathomable that there is still no construction on the site and the brigade has been told it won’t begin until this time next year for completion later in 2025.
“How is it possible that it takes nearly five years to build a simple, small fire shed which will be based on a design already in place at dozens of brigades around the state?”
Mr O’Brien said the Winnindoo and district community was extremely happy when the funding was announced but has grown increasingly frustrated as the delays drag on.
“It is no surprise that we are seeing Labor experience massive budget blow-outs on mega projects in the city when it can’t even deliver a simple rural fire station.
“Gippslanders and our CFA volunteers deserve better and I call on the Allan Labor Government to fast-track this long-delayed project to deliver better facilities for the local community and our CFA volunteers.
“Labor can’t manage money, it can’t manage projects and it’s Victorians and our volunteers that are suffering the consequences.”