Emergency service volunteers receive vital grants

EMERGENCY service volunteers across the Geelong region are among those sharing in $15 million in grants from this year’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).

The annual grants program funded by the Victorian government, which provides funding to Victorian emergency services volunteer groups to purchase essential operational equipment, vehicles and appliances and minor facility improvements.

Groups including the CFA, life saving clubs, the Victorian SES and Volunteer Marine Search and Rescue groups can apply for a grant up to a maximum of $150,000 excluding GST.

The VESEP will provide $2 for every $1 of funding contributed by the local volunteer group.

Life Saving Victoria clubs will receive almost $880,000 to give clubs at popular beach destinations what they need to respond during the summer peak.

This will include more than $15,000 each for Anglesea and Barwon Heads/Thirteenth Beach, $22,000 for Apollo Bay, $30,000 each for Lorne and Ocean Grove, and more than $40,000 for Torquay for equipment and facility upgrades.

For the CFA, the VESEP funding has been spread across 167 projects that included a range of replacement vehicles for brigades including an additional 11 new ultra light tankers, 6 Bigfills and 18 Field Command Vehicles.

Local brigades receiving grants include Drysdale ($71,000), Forrest ($140,000) and Little River ($24,000).

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes announced the latest VESEP grants on Thursday last week during a trip to Drouin.

“We know this funding will a vital boost for our selfless volunteers who are always there for Victorians when they need them,” she said.

“Volunteers look forward to the VESEP grants every year – we’re proud to support the vital fundraising work they do with this program.”