Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Members statements

Country Fire Authority Rochester brigade

Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (12:23): On behalf of the volunteer men and women of the Rochester CFA, I again raise the desperate need they have for a new fire station. The current station is nearing its 60th birthday, and it has only remained operational because the Rochester CFA volunteers have fundraised money to add multiple extensions to accommodate the new generation of larger trucks and associated equipment. It is so small that the trucks actually risk damage as they are manoeuvred in and out of the station. The current station has served the Rochester community well, but it is no longer fit for purpose. For a brigade that turns out as many times each year as the Rochester CFA does, they deserve a new police station.

Captain Luke Warren and his brigade are always willing to do their bit to help keep Rochester and district safe, and it is time the Andrews Labor government did its bit to support the brigade and the community by providing funding for a new fire station in this year’s budget. If the Andrews government can fund $23 billion in cost overruns on its Melbourne major transport infrastructure projects, it should be able to build a new fire station for Rochester. That $23 billion in cost overruns would build 10 000 new police stations across country Victoria, like in Rochester. It is not too much to ask for Rochester—just one fire station—when the Andrews Labor government can waste $23 billion on cost overruns on its Melbourne transport infrastructure projects.