Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (12:53): (2299) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. Will the minister provide funding in the 2026–27 state budget for a new Yarrawonga fire station? A new fire station in Yarrawonga has been CFA district 22’s top priority for many years. The existing station is old and has no toilets or showers, and CFA inspectors have said it is not suitable for refurbishment. Even worse, the brigade has had to turn down the chance for a new tanker and pumper because they are too big to fit in the existing truck bays. When I raised this matter back in 2020, the government said it was aware of the needs of the Yarrawonga fire brigade, and yet in every single state budget since, the Labor government has continued to ignore the needs of Yarrawonga. This summer showed that bushfires remain a constant and deadly threat. The brigade is desperate for a new station that will support it to deliver a faster, safer and more effective fire and medical response. Minister, this must be the year that Yarrawonga gets a new fire station.