Works well underway at new Bannockburn SES site

THE new VICSES Bannockburn Unit base under construction at Dann Road is on track to be delivered by spring.

Unit members, VICSES chief officer operations Alistair Drayton, the Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward and the Member for Geelong Christine Couzens visited the site last week which will soon have a three-bay motor room, turnout and amenities areas, spaces for training and volunteer wellbeing, and plenty of vehicle and equipment storage.

Unit controller Blake Shawcross said members are expecting to move in around November, and they are looking forward to having their own purpose-built home.

“Here, we’ll be able to house all our vehicles and not have to have them offsite, and CFA will get their space back,” he said.

“We’ll also have space to train. At the moment we’re going to Geelong to train.”

Bannockburn SES volunteer Chris Balis said the new headquarters is the “talk of the town.”

“People can see the worksite from the supermarket carpark and there’s been lots of positive comments on social media,” he said.

Mr Drayton said the Bannockburn environment is a busy one for the service.

“It’s a growing area and there’s an increasing number of calls we have and are responding to,” he said.

“We can’t do that alone without the support of the State Government, and we thank them for providing this site.

“It’s been a long time coming. It will be very exciting to be here at the opening and I’m looking forward to that.”

The Community Safety Building Authority are overseeing the works, while Geelong company E.J. Lyons are head contractors.

Ms Couzens said Bannockburn SES has played a crucial role in protecting the community for close to 50 years.

“This new facility backs the volunteers who are always there when we need them,” she said.