Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell has again called on the Andrews Government to provide funding to build a new SES base for Port Fairy.
She called for funding to be provided in the May state budget to ensure the volunteers could move ahead with the plan to co-locate with the town’s CFA brigade on a new purpose build base on the Princes Highway.
“The new fire station seems to be progressing faster than plans for the new SES base. It is the desire of everyone involved to have both services co-locate, and the fear is that the SES is being left behind,” Ms Britnell said.
“The Minister, or acting Minister, needs to come and see what these volunteers are working out of in Port Fairy.
“If they saw it for themselves, they would understand just how dire the situation is. I have been there many times now. One day it was pouring rain and there were buckets all over the place catching the leaks from the roof.
“The facility is holding the group back in terms of their response to emergencies and in recruiting new members. I mean, who would want to join a group that is based out of a leaky old shed with the most basic of facilities?”
Ms Britnell said it was the seventh time she has raised the matter in the chamber and follows countless written representations to the Minister on behalf of the SES volunteers.
“I also pledged ahead of the 2018 state election that this joint base would be a project that a Liberal government would fund – because I understand how important this project is.”
“The response from the Minister is always the same, a throwaway line that the project would be assessed, and the Government would work with the SES to progress the matter further.
“It’s getting to a critical point, the Minister, must provide funding in the upcoming budget to deliver the facilities the hardworking SES Volunteers in Port Fairy deserve.”
