Premier

Backing our state’s emergency services

01 May 2018

Emergency services workers and volunteers will get the equipment and facilities they need to keep Victorians safe, as part of the Victorian Budget 2018/19.

More than $43 million will go towards upgrading and building new Country Fire Authority (CFA), State Emergency Service (SES) and Life Saving Victoria facilities, giving our emergency workers and volunteers the modern facilities they deserve.

A new $13 million integrated fire station will be built in Craigieburn to make sure residents in the growing northern suburbs are protected, and local firefighters have the facilities they need to keep the community safe.

Funding will be provided to upgrade volunteer facilities including $2.5 million for Moe CFA, $1.6 million for Mount Macedon CFA, and $1.2 million for the Essendon SES unit.

Land will be purchased for new builds, including at Armstrong Creek CFA and Cobram SES.

The Andrews Labor Government will provide $11.5 million to Life Saving Victoria for upgrades at clubs including Bonbeach and Black Rock.

The Labor Government will also invest more than $8.3 million in water safety programs to make sure more Victorians know how to swim and stay safe in the water, helping to reduce the number of drownings.

This includes more lifeguards at our beaches, as well as more training and support for our volunteer lifeguards.

The Nippers program will be expanded to include more inland regional towns and cities, with programs to be adapted so they can be run at public swimming pools, lakes and rivers.

There will be more support for school swimming lessons and water safety programs, with standard teaching resources to be developed, and training and accreditation programs for teachers and staff in the aquatic industry.

The Labor Government will also continue to fund the $10 million state-wide volunteer support package that provides training and development grants for volunteers in our emergency services organisations.

These grants will provide local volunteers with the things they need to keep their local club, unit or brigade sustainable and to serve their communities, like equipment, facility improvements and training.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino

“Our emergency services workers put themselves on the line to protect our state, and we’re proud to be backing them with millions of dollars in extra funding.”

“Volunteers give up their own time to serve their communities, and they deserve the very best equipment and facilities. That’s exactly what this Budget delivers.”

“Almost 400 Victorians have drowned in the past ten years. Many of these tragic deaths could have been avoided, which is why we’re helping more Victorians learn to swim and stay safe in the water.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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