Brigade sounds alarm over 12-year station delay

THE Aireys Inlet Fire Brigade is calling on the Victorian government to urgently fund a long-promised new fire station, warning its outdated facility is compromising safety in one of the state’s highest-risk bushfire zones.

The brigade presently operates out of a small shed in Pearse Road – described by one volunteer as “falling down around [their] ears” – that its crew says is now well beyond its usable life.

But despite negotiations for a new fire station beginning more than 12 years ago, and the CFA acquiring a parcel of land on the Great Ocean Road to house the new station in 2018 – one closer to the town centre and with more direct access to surrounding communities – the facility is no closer to being delivered.

Captain Adam Gilliver said the safety of its members and its operational effectiveness, particularly during bushfire season, are among the brigade’s biggest concerns.

“We know it’s not going to be a quick turnaround to get into a new venue, but we just don’t want to get to a point where there’s a knee jerk reaction after a major event,” he said.

 

“The bushfire period is during our busiest period of the year, where we can go from having 900 people that live in this area to 10,000 people over night, and that’s not including people on the road.

“We’re considered one of the most dangerous towns in Victoria for bushfire. We have only one road in and one road out, so we have those concerns of once people are in town during a major event, they’ll be in town [and] there’ll be nowhere for them to go.”

Meanwhile, the brigade has grown to 50 members, and with no dedicated change rooms, its volunteers are still gearing up in cramped spaces, less than a metre in width, next to the station’s vehicles.

“We’ve got the land, we just don’t have the funding, so we’re calling on the state government to look ahead and plan for Aireys Inlet to get a new station to alleviate those concerns for, not only the members, but the community as well,” Gilliver said.

 

“It’s in their best interest to plan ahead for a potential bushfire emergency in this area. We just don’t have anywhere to put people, or look after people, the way they want us to.”

A spokesperson for the CFA said the organisation would continue to work with the state government to identify priority stations for further investment, with station upgrades and replacements prioritised based on operational need and community risk.

“CFA endeavours to upgrade and replace stations across the state in an equitable manner to support volunteer brigades and the communities they serve.”

A spokesperson for the Victorian government confirmed the arrangement and its role in supporting the CFA to equip volunteers with the training, infrastructure and resources they need.

 

“We recognise the critical support that brigades like Aireys Inlet provide and can assure the community that our fire services are well prepared to assist in an emergency.

“Our CFA volunteers put their lives on the line every day for our safety and we continue to provide the support they need to carry out their vital role.”