MP turns up heat on Aireys fire station

A SURF Coast-based politician is calling on the state government to fund a new fire station in Aireys Inlet.

In August 2018, the Aireys Inlet CFA acquired land at 69 Great Ocean Road, near the town centre.

This will be where the new fire station is built, replacing the existing one at 26 Pearse Road.

When it was announced, Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said she was pleased with the news as Aireys Inlet needed a new station.

“The current station on Pearse Road has provided 34 years of terrific service. But the brigade has outgrown the site, meaning a new station is needed.”

However, in the 18 months since the brigade acquired the new land, there has been little apparent progress on the new station.

Member for Western Victoria and Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley said the growth of the Aireys Inlet CFA demanded such an investment.

“I am putting pressure on the government to fund the shed for Aireys Inlet CFA so they can actually fit their appliances and equipment inside and be able to respond to fires more rapidly.

“The Aireys Inlet CFA do an outstanding job in protecting the community; they respond to about 100 incidents each year.”

On February 19, Mr Grimley asked a constituency question of the Emergency Services Minister: “If funding has been assigned to the build of the new station, when will this build begin and be completed?”

Mr Grimley said regardless of conditions, the process must begin as soon as possible.

“We know with these things, it takes months to develop plans, to get permits and to actually build the shed so we need to secure funding as soon as possible before another horrible fire season begins.”