A future Brumby Labor Government will support Portland firefighters by building a brand new fire station for Portland, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said today.
Ms Tierney said that a future Brumby Labor Government would invest in the biggest fire station building program in the Country Fire Authority’s history and that would see a direct benefit to the Portland community.
“Labor is determined to work with the Country Fire Authority and the State’s magnificent firefighter force to make Victoria as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible,” Ms Tierney said.
“If the Brumby Government is elected, we will build an $8 million CFA station in Portland, the biggest type of CFA stations built in Victoria.
“The facility will include motor rooms, a kitchen, amenities, a workshop, store rooms, a gym and a brigade office.
Ms Tierney said Labor’s strong economic management means that our State Budget has the capacity to fund new measures as we undertake fundamental reforms to make our State as fire-safe and fire-ready as possible.
“We have backed our firefighters with record resources and we are making unprecedented investments to support our volunteers.
“That’s why we will invest $147.7 million to take the next steps in rebuilding and building new CFA stations across Victoria to support our valued volunteer firefighters who work tirelessly to protect our communities.
“This new commitment is in addition to $60 million already committed through the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission response to build new CFA stations and upgrade stations over the next four years.
“Our Government firmly believes that world-class firefighters deserve world-class fire stations. That’s why, if re-elected, we’ll commit $147.7 million to take our overall commitment over the next term to $207.7million.
“This program will do more than just deliver new buildings – it will help boost the connection of local CFA fire stations to their communities by opening some of them up for broader community group use.”
Ms Tierney said that this announcement came on top of Labor’s commitment to double funding to the successful Community Safety Emergency Support Program (CSESP) yet again, providing $54.4 million to volunteer emergency services such as the CFA, SES, Lifesaving Victoria, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and other eligible organisations over the next four years.
“While Labor has pledged to commit record funding of $54.4 million to the CSESP, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine have earmarked the program as one of the first to have its funding slashed to $20 million.
“Only Labor will continue the record investment in the Country Fire Authority and firefighters across the State.”