Question details

Country Fire Authority Morwell station

Legislative Assembly 60 Parliament First Session
133: Adjournment Matters
Martin Cameron to ask the Minister for Police for the Minister for Emergency Services — 

(133) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Emergency Services in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to allocate funding to ensure the Morwell CFA remains a standalone station. Over the past four years the Morwell CFA has made known its desire to remain separate from Fire Rescue Victoria on several occasions, including in this house, and still the brigade is no closer to gaining answers from the Andrews government about its future. Volunteers are adamant they will not move to a new site on Princes Drive alongside paid FRV staff, citing very real and valid fears about whether the Morwell CFA will survive if they are forced to co-locate.

The new FRV site is not designed to cater for the presence of the growing Morwell CFA brigade. There is not enough room for volunteers to work at full capacity, and their access to the station would be limited and monitored by career staff. This is an absolute slap in the face for our hardworking volunteers and undermines the legacy they have built over more than 100 years, selflessly protecting our community. The new FRV station in Morwell is actually not practicably big enough to accommodate the CFA tanker, CFA equipment plus over 100 years of memorabilia, including honour boards that currently hang in the McDonald Street CFA station.

The Morwell CFA has voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion to remain a standalone station either at the current site on McDonald Street or at a new location. Volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes to access possible locations for a new station and are fully prepared to work with the Andrews government to secure the future of volunteer firefighting in the region.

Minister, a precedent has been set in other areas like Moe and Eltham where CFA volunteers have separate stations to career staff. I am imploring you to put an end to the uncertainty and the lip-service with our volunteers to discuss and commit to the allocation of funding for a standalone station for the Morwell CFA in the upcoming budget so they can continue to attract and educate new members to protect our community for the next 100 years.

Answer - 18 December 2023

The Victorian Government has invested in a new fire station at Princess Drive, Morwell, which was built as a co-located facility to house Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) staff and Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers.

 

I am advised CFA is continuing to consult with the volunteer brigade management team and FRV on the station amendments and inclusions for enhancing volunteer amenity.

 

 

Jaclyn Symes MP

Attorney-General

Minister for Emergency Services

View all questions
• Answered
Asked
2 May 2023
by Cameron, Martin
Due
1 June 2023
Answered
18 December 2023