East Gippsland's emergency services are in desperate need of infrastructure upgrades to ensure community safety and effective emergency response.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the upcoming State Budget needs allocations for immediate investment in police and fire station upgrades.

Mr Bull said it was unacceptable that these emergency services continue to operate in outdated and inadequate facilities.

“Despite clear needs, funding has not been allocated to these essential services, which are struggling to operate from substandard or non-existent infrastructure,” Mr Bull said.

“Both the Maffra and Orbost police stations are overdue for expansion, with officers forced to work in overcrowded facilities lacking space for essential equipment. These conditions are impacting policing capacity.

“Upgrading these stations will allow for local offender processing to reduce strain on nearby stations, and ensure officers have the resources they need to keep our communities safe,” he said.

“In addition to this, East Gippsland's CFA stations are facing growing pressures, particularly in high-risk fire areas. The Lakes Entrance Fire Station is too small to accommodate its existing firefighting equipment and presents safety risks for volunteers.

“Firefighting trucks and response vehicles are packed in like sardines, creating an unsafe working environment for our dedicated volunteers. A new, fit-for-purpose facility on a greenfield site is needed to meet the growing demands of fire response,” Mr Bull said.

The Metung CFA is also in urgent need of relocation, with land already secured thanks to strong community backing. The station must be built to centralise response due to the expansion of the Metung settlement area.

“East Gippsland is one of the most bushfire-prone regions in the world, and we cannot afford delays when it comes to emergency response infrastructure. This State Budget is an opportunity for the government to step up and invest in the safety of our communities,” he said.

“With the Victorian Budget set to be handed down in May, I don’t expect all to be funded, but it is time this Government started knocking some of these projects off the list,” he said.

Caption: The Nationals’ Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, says it's time the Allan Labor Government backed our region with funding for critical emergency service upgrades in the upcoming State Budget.

Monday, 7 April 2025