No timeline set for long-awaited fire station in Armstrong Creek

A FIRE station promised to the growing Armstrong Creek community by the Victorian government seven years ago continues to face delays, with no date set for its construction.

The station, pledged ahead of the 2018 state election, was initially expected to be delivered in 2021, with $2.8 million in funding allocated in the 2018-19 Victorian budget for the purchase of land for the new station.

A parcel of land was then secured in McCanns Road in Mount Duneed for the station, located approximately six minutes away from the Armstrong Creek township, a move heavily criticised at the time by the Liberal Party for its potential fire response ramifications.

It is understood the McCanns Road site was later deemed unsuitable for the fire station by the Victorian government and a new site, at 350-360 Boundary Road within Armstrong Creek, was identified.

The delivery date for the station, meanwhile, was pushed back to 2023, but little progress has since been made on the project, with the settlement of the Boundary Road site still to be finalised.

The project has received no additional funding in this year’s budget and no estimated timeline for its delivery has been provided.

A spokesperson for the Victorian government said the project was being led by Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV).

“Our dedicated fire services continue to deliver exceptional support to communities across the state.

 

 

“We will work with FRV on the next steps regarding the Armstrong Creek Fire Station.”

The fire station is expected to be staffed by career firefighters, and include space for three fire trucks and eight bedrooms to serve as a base for 21 staff to support surrounding volunteer firefighters.

A spokesperson for FRV confirmed the organisation is still “in the process of settling the land” for the new station and, once finalised, will seek additional funding to complete its construction.

“Once built, the Armstrong Creek fire station will be well-positioned to support the Lara, Corio, Geelong City, Belmont and Ocean Grove fire stations in delivering an excellent emergency response across Western District 3.”

Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan criticised ongoing delays to the project, and suggested the region was being taken for granted.

He cited several other local projects that have either been delayed or cancelled, such as the Torquay Hospital, Commonwealth Games and the roll-out of much-needed social housing.

“As one of Victoria’s fastest growing areas, no promises have been kept, yet both land taxes and now fire service property taxes are at record levels, ripping millions of dollars from the region to pay for train upgrades in Melbourne, as the former Labor member for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman proudly promoted in Parliament recently,” he said.

“Communities across Victoria, but particularly near Geelong and the Surf Coast, continue to be seen as a tax base to pay for projects in Melbourne, while basic health and emergency services are promised but not delivered.”

The closest volunteer brigades to Armstrong Creek are in Connewarre and Grovedale, with the nearest permanently staffed station located in Belmont.