Terang VICSES will receive funding for a new emergency response truck as part of a $20.5 million emergency services package in the 2008/09 State Budget.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said VICSES was responsible for responding to a range of emergencies, including planning for and responding to floods.
“VICSES members assist during severe storm and earthquakes and undertake road accident rescue and search and rescue activities,” Ms Tierney said.
“Volunteers also provide support to other emergency agencies including Victoria Police.
“This vehicle will help ensure VICSES is properly equipped to deal with these situations.”
The funding is part of $2.6 million allocated to VICSES for new resources to better equip it to help Victorians during emergencies.
VICSES completed more than 8400 flood and storm tasks across the state last year, which took more than 47,000 volunteer working hours to complete.
Ms Tierney said the Brumby Government was committed to ensuring volunteer emergency services groups were well resourced.
“The Brumby Government’s contribution has more than doubled the emergency services budget since 1999 to $200 million this year,” she said.
“This year’s investment builds on funding from previous budgets and that provided by projects like the Community Safety Emergency Support Program.
“Since its inception seven years ago CSESP has provided volunteer emergency services groups with an additional $18.3 million in funding to buy new equipment and upgrade facilities.”
The $5.9 million received by VICSES through the CSESP program has allowed the organisation to buy equipment or upgrade facilities worth $10.2 million.
Ms Tierney said emergency services volunteers were part of the social fabric of small communities across the State.
“I’d like to thank VICSES volunteers for the vital role they play in helping to protect Victorians such as in the recent windstorms and the Gippsland floods.”