Emergency services volunteers in Ballarat are receiving a $122,000 funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino and Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight today visited the Ballarat Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) unit to congratulate volunteers on their successful grants under the $15 million Emergency Services Volunteer Sustainability (ESVS) grants program.
Mr Merlino and Ms Knight also took a tour of areas affected by the high winds and heavy rain that hit Ballarat on Sunday night and Monday morning.
Thousands of homes and businesses lost power and SES volunteers worked around the clock to help those in need. The SES’s MidWest region had 283 requests for assistance from midnight Sunday to early afternoon Monday.
The Ballarat VICSES unit will receive $67,000 in funding to buy new operational equipment, repair a damaged car park and roof, and conduct rescue training.
Local volunteer CFA brigades will also benefit from the ESVS program with grants totalling $55,000.
Buninyong Brigade will purchase new chainsaws and helmets, while Eureka Group will receive a six hose testing trailer and the Sebastopol Brigade will undertake station renovations.
Ballarat’s population is growing and outside of Melbourne, Alfredton is the second fastest growing suburb in the state – with growth of nearly six per cent a year. It is vital that our volunteers have the resources they need to protect this rising population.
More than 260 grants worth almost $5.2 million have been approved so far under the Emergency ESVS grants program with plenty more to come.
A list of successful grant recipients can be found at:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino
“Congratulations to Ballarat VICSES units and CFA brigades on securing funding that will help them continue their outstanding work keeping the community safe.”
“Ballarat’s emergency services volunteers put in long hours keeping the community safe. On Sunday and Monday there were hundreds of requests for help in the local area; it is vital that these volunteers are well equipped and properly trained to meet the challenging conditions they face.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“Our Emergency Services volunteers are the first line of defence and they deserve the best equipment, training and facilities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020