Australia’s oldest volunteer fire brigade today received a huge boost as the Premier John Brumby opened the Country Fire Authority’s new $8.9 million headquarters in Geelong, the largest CFA station to be built in Victoria’s history.
Founded in 1854, Geelong City Fire Brigade was Australia’s first volunteer fire brigade. Today, it is an integrated fire brigade with 18 volunteer and 34 full-time career firefighters and staff who respond to more than 1800 callouts a year.
Joining past and present firefighters from across the Geelong region, Mr Brumby opened the city’s new fire station and handed over the keys to three new firefighting vehicles. “Geelong City CFA has a long tradition of protecting Victoria’s largest regional centre.”
“Our Government places enormous value on Victoria’s emergency services and will continue to ensure they are backed by record resources to carry out the vital, valued worked they do each year to protect our communities,” Mr Brumby said.
“As Australia’s oldest volunteer fire brigade, Geelong City CFA has a long tradition of protecting Victoria’s largest regional centre.
“I am delighted to join the Geelong community for this historic occasion which provides us with an opportunity to look back and can see how far Geelong and its fire brigade have come and to celebrate the contribution of its past and present firefighters.”
Mr Brumby said the 2009/10 fire season had involved the largest-ever firefighting effort with the state’s emergency services backed by record resources of over $700 million.
It involved:
• CFA crews attending more than 13,000 incidents including 2,500 grass and scrub fires;
• Deployment of new aerial firefighting equipment, including the DC-10 waterbomber – the largest aircraft ever to be trialled to fight fires in Australia, as well as the deployment of Elvis and Elsie.
• Use of the new Emergency Alert system to warn communities on 32 occasions in four states including Victoria, with more than 110,000 warning messages issued;
• Record attendance of 65,000 people at more than 2100 community fireguard meetings with more than 52,000 visits to the CFA’s new online self-assessment tool;
• Meetings between the CFA and about 600 tourism business owners to discuss fire risk for tourists during the fire season; and
• An unprecedented effort by communities across the state to prepare their homes, properties and communities.
“There has never been a greater effort to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible – our emergency services are being backed by a record budget and across Victoria we’ve seen communities put in a massive effort to prepare,” Mr Brumby said.
“Thankfully, through a combination of favourable weather conditions, the largest-ever firefighting effort and community vigilance, the fire season whilst active, passed without major incident. But we are not complacent and are already working to prepare for the next fire season.”
Mr Cameron said Geelong’s new fire station is part of the Brumby Labor Government’s ongoing investment in emergency service capabilities across the state to help keep communities safe.
“The Geelong CFA plays a vital role in protecting the Geelong community from the threat of fire and this new station and new heavy pumper, ladder platform and medium tanker will ensure they continue to be equipped with the very best firefighting facilities,” Mr Cameron said.
“These vehicles, which can perform a range of functions, will ensure that Geelong City CFA remains versatile and flexible and ready to respond to the needs of this rapidly growing region.
“In recognition of the work they do and to boost preparation for the fire season, the State Government invested in a record emergency services budget this year.
“We have also doubled the amount of money available for Community Safety Emergency Support Program grants to $6.8 million in 2010/11, giving volunteer emergency services groups access to vital equipment and upgrades.
“Since 2001 the CSESP has delivered $24 million in grants directly assisting Victoria’s emergency services volunteers to purchase $52.7 million in emergency equipment to protect their local communities.”
The new Geelong fire station includes six vehicle bays and space for the aerial unit and rescue unit, accommodation for 12 staff, meeting rooms, a gymnasium and communications centre.
It also has sustainability features including sensor lights, water tanks and energy efficient appliances and air-conditioning.
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise said the city was proud of its CFA brigade.
“I know the Geelong CFA has a very long and proud history serving the community of Geelong and today’s opening is another important step forward in ensuring that service continues” Mr Trezise said.
Since the tragic Black Saturday fire the government and agencies have introduced a range of new measures and improvements including:
• A new national fire danger rating system, with a new category for Code Red (Catastrophic) to warn communities of the risk of fires that are unpredictable, uncontrollable and fast moving;
• Warnings delivered to fixed and mobile phones (based on a billing address) through a new national emergency warning system, known as Emergency Alert;
• New procedures for schools and children’s services on Code Red (catastrophic) days;
• A new ‘10/30 right’ which allows landowners to clear vegetation on their own property within 10 metres of a house and ground fuel within 30 metres of a house without a permit;
• New Memorandum of Understanding’s (MoU) with every commercial radio broadcaster in Victoria to become official emergency broadcasters - this covers stations in both Melbourne and regional Victoria as well as the first ever television agreement in Victoria with Sky News TV; and an enhanced agreement with ABC;
• Significant additional resources for the fire preparation and firefighting effort, in addition the first-ever dedicated statewide Fire Action Week was held with communities; and
• Accepted all 51 recommendations in the Royal Commission’s interim report and are implementing them.