My question is to the Minister for Emergency Services, and I am seeking the latest information on the plans to relocate the Port Fairy Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) units to the new joint facility in town. Minister, this is a project the Port Fairy fire brigade and SES members are very keen to see get off the ground, but rumours abound that the CFA powers to be are going ahead with the relocation while this SES move has been stalled due to a lack of funding. If this does not get sorted out soon, the Port Fairy SES could be left homeless and the unit forced to disband, leaving no SES between Warrnambool and Heywood. The Port Fairy SES have already trialled a successful satellite branch co-location in Koroit and believe that co-location is the best and most cost-effective way forward with Port Fairy shared facilities, like meeting rooms and kitchens. Minister, listen to the locals, do this smart co-location move and stop wasting taxpayers money.
