Local member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today said Wye River Surf Life Saving Club would receive $44,266 from this year’s Community Safety Emergency Support Program (CSESP).
Ms Tierney said the funding would help the Wye River Surf Life Saving Club secure a disabled access ramp.
In total, 12 Life Saving Victoria clubs and Australian Volunteer Coastguard flotillas and will buy more than $1.6, million in extra emergency equipment by matching more than $311,000 in CSESP grants with their own contributions.
The funding builds on $18.3 million in grants distributed over the past eight years, enabling volunteer emergency services organisations to buy more than $46 million worth of supplementary equipment to date.
Ms Tierney said it was vital to maintain well-resourced volunteer emergency services groups.
“Be it flood, fire, storm or water rescues, our emergency services volunteers are ready to respond and help with recovery efforts. Their tireless hard work and dedication help keep Victoria safe,” she said.
With the additional funding, the volunteer groups would be able to buy extra equipment, from navigation aides, and communications equipment to tow vehicles and boats.
The funding would also be used to extend and improve facilities at their local headquarters.
“Groups can secure the latest equipment to carry out their vital work or create safer and more comfortable facilities to improve the experience for volunteers,” Ms Tierney said.
The grants would support record levels of investment into making Victoria’s world class emergency services even stronger, she said.
“The State Government has more than doubled the emergency services’ core budget since 1999 – from $254 million to $587 million this year,” Ms Tierney said.
“The recent State Budget committed an additional $20.5 million to emergency services initiatives and when and the CSESP program when completed in the next three years will have provided $11 million in grants,” she said.
“The additional funding supports our commitment to maintain well-resourced emergency services and provides volunteer groups with extra equipment to help them carry out their important work,” she said.
“The Brumby Government highly values the vital work volunteers do, responding to a wide range of emergencies to assist their communities in times of need, 24 horus a day, 365 days a year” she said.