A NEW CFA fire station in Junortoun is being built and it\u2019s reflective of the brigade and suburb\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n
Construction officially started at the site last Friday, with member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allen on hand to turn the first sod at 25 Popes Road, which is across the street from the current station.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was an election commitment that myself on behalf of the Andrews Labor Government made back in 2018 and it\u2019s great three years later to see the start of works,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe brigade needed a new facility; it had outgrown its old facility which had served the community well but it\u2019s time for a new station and one that met the modern needs of the fire brigade here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new station will house trucks and equipment while providing enhanced kitchen and meeting facilities, change rooms, toilets and shower facilities.<\/p>\n
Brigade caption Heath Martin said Junortoun\u2019s population has increased by 70 per cent since 2010 and the CFA had well and truly outgrown the former 1980s-built station.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019ve look at what we\u2019ve managed along with until now, this will be fantastic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll get rid of a lot of our OH&S issues, we\u2019ll have the ability to house a lot of our stuff properly, be able to train and do our maintenance in our environment, and it will be an asset for the community as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Junortoun has 34 active members and has responded to 36 callouts in the last 12 months, 26 in its primary response area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe feeling around the brigade is one of elation, we\u2019re so happy that it\u2019s finally happening,\u201d Mr Martin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe plan to kick off a recruiting campaign early next year in conjunction with when this starts to look more like a station, and we\u2019ll continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new site has been funded by $1.6 million from the State Government and $900,000 from the Emergency Services Refurbishment Program.<\/p>\n
Construction is expected to be completed by Autumn next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW CFA fire station in Junortoun is being built and it\u2019s reflective of the brigade and suburb\u2019s growth. Construction officially started at the site last Friday, with member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allen on hand to turn the first sod at 25 Popes Road, which is across the street from the current station. \u201cThis […]<\/p>\n