Tuesday, 6 February 2024

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:11): (634) My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services. The Bendigo central fire station is over 40 years old and due for an upgrade to accommodate staff and appliances. It was built in 1983, when there were five firefighters; now they have up to 12 on a shift. In 2019 the state government announced the station was to be upgraded and construction was to begin in mid-2020. After a detailed search and submission, a new temporary site was located 3 kilometres away in Murphy Street, East Bendigo, to operate 24 hours a day while the Hargreaves Street station was upgraded. According to the government’s own website, the temporary station in Murphy Street was completed in March 2022 and the project status of the permanent station in Bendigo is currently on hold. As we enter 2024 can the minister please explain why the temporary site remains vacant and when it will be used and provide an update on when the Hargreaves Street fire station upgrade will be completed?