Liberals promise all-in-one emergency services hub

THE Liberal Party has promised to include a State Emergency Service (SES) unit in a $14 million “one stop shop” for emergency services for Armstrong Creek and surrounding communities if it wins the state election next month.

The $2.25 million commitment would build an SES station and deliver a Response vehicle to serve the Armstrong Creek region and southern suburbs.

The additional funding pledge is on top of a $4 million plan for a paramedic and ambulance station, and $8 million for an Armstrong Creek fire station, that the party said it would fund in their first state budget.

Liberal South Barwon candidate Andrew Katos said the new three-pronged development would deliver the long-awaited response centres for the growth area.
“Armstrong Creek is growing, we all know that, and emergency services haven’t kept pace with growth.

“The SES station is the last piece of the puzzle.

We’re going to build an emergency services precinct, with an ambulance station, a Fire Rescue Victoria station, and an SES station in the same facility.

“That gives full protection to people’s health and property covering all of those services for when people are most in need.”

Shadow Emergency Services Minister Brad Battin said an Armstrong Creek SES station would improve safety of local residents while also easing strain on the nearby South Barwon unit based at Grovedale.

“SES volunteers work tirelessly to protect the community and are being stretched thin.

“This important investment will ensure there are more resources in the area and provide a faster emergency response to manage future callouts.”

The Opposition said it would build its new precinct at a site at Boundary Road that the City of Greater Geelong identified in 2014.

South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman declined to comment on the latest proposal this week, but hinted at announcements to come leading up to the November 26 poll.

Emergency services provision is a long-running political flashpoint in the Armstrong Creek region, with the Opposition and minor parties, including Torquay-based Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party MP Stuart Grimley continuing calls for a fire station in the growing community.

Both major parties committed to building a fire station ahead of the 2018 election. Labor’s then-Emergency Services Minister James Merlino and Mr Cheeseman had promised a $8.18 million fire station for 21 staff who could support surrounding volunteer firefighters, but the project made little progress in the ensuing government term.