What is the fire station deal?
0 comment

What is the fire station deal?

Clarity is being sought on confusion over the funding of the Bairnsdale Fire Brigade’s proposed station relocation.
 
This comes after State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, received a letter earlier this week from the Minister saying funding has “already been allocated”, but alarmingly, neither the local brigade or the CFA seem to know anything about the project having been funded.
 
There was then social media from the CFA that said it has been funded, but it was quickly removed.
 
“Given this, I will be seeking some clarity. It wasn’t in the recent budget and it seems there are mixed messages all over the place,” said Mr Bull.
 
Mr Bull said local firefighters were waiting on funding to move to a new Princes Highway location, a precinct that would also house Ambulance Victoria and the State Emergency Service and he had attended recent meetings with brigade members and the CFA.
 
“With news in February this year land had been secured for this relocation, I wrote to the Minister requesting that funding follows this announcement, so there could be some further surety for our volunteers,” Mr Bull said.
 
“In his response which arrived yesterday – almost four months later – the Minister stated: ‘Funding for the construction of the new station has already been allocated’.
 
“The small problem with this is when my office contacted the Bairnsdale Brigade and the CFA they knew nothing of it.
 
“The Andrews Labor Government needs to make it clear – has funding been allocated, and if so, why doesn’t the brigade know, or is the statement in this letter incorrect?
 
Mr Bull said the existing facility was more than 90 years old, while its positioning in the Bairnsdale CBD was an occupational health and safety issue.
 
“I will continue to campaign for the funding for this facility,” he said.
 
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, says Bairnsdale Fire Brigade members are waiting on funding to relocate their station away from the busy Main Street.
 
Tuesday, June 5, 2018