The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announced that a $26 million funding package will fast track the construction and upgrade of 60 rural Country Fire Authority (CFA) stations across the State over the next two years, benefiting communities in Polwarth.
Ms Tierney said funding boost will significantly bring forward building schedules for CFA stations in Polwarth including:
– Ellerslie CFA
– Wurdale CFA
– Noorat and District CFA
She said priorities for the first year include some areas severely impacted by the recent fires.
“The Brumby Government is committed to providing modern, updated facilities to assist our CFA volunteers in doing their important work,” Ms Tierney said.
“These new stations will be determined by local needs and will include bigger areas to house vehicles, environmental design features, and meeting rooms which could be used by the broader community.
“These new stations will meet the growing needs of rural communities, some of which were severely affected by the recent fires.”
Ms Tierney said the funding was part of a state-wide Government priority of supporting and upgrading Victoria’s emergency services.
“Our CFA volunteers embody the spirit of what it means to be a part of a community and display the qualities we all value – courage, commitment, compassion, self-sacrifice.
“Local volunteer agencies are the backbone of Victoria’s emergency service response and the Brumby Government is proud to support the dedicated men and women who give up so much to help keep our community safe.
“These new fire stations will also stimulate the local economy through providing work to local builders and other trades.”
Ms Tierney said the recent 2009/10 State Budget delivered a significant boost to Victoria’s emergency services including:
• $21.1 million to replace 87 CFA appliances over the next year;
• $10.3 million to replace 15 heavy rescue vehicles, 7 four wheel drive vehicles, 9 rescue boats and 11 road crash rescue kits at VICSES Units across Victoria; and
• $10.3 million for 42 ultra light tankers.
Further to this, an investment of $20.7 million is being made to improve communication blackspots across the State, plus enhancements to the bushfire information line.
“Since Labor came to power in 1999, the combined emergency services core budget has more than doubled, and we continue to invest heavily in this area,” Ms Tierney said.
“Victoria’s expenditure per person on fire services is the highest in the nation.”
There are 30 rural stations announced this year with the CFA to determine another 30 for next year.