Blaze battle boost

By Russell Bennett
TWO hills fire brigades can look forward to new fire stations if Labor wins this month’s State Election.
The Silvan and Menzies Creek brigades will each benefit from about $500,000 as part of the State Government’s $147.7 million promise to upgrade 250 stations across Victoria.
Monbulk MP James Merlino made the announcement outside Silvan fire station on Tuesday last week with Labor candidate for Evelyn Peter Harris. Mr Merlino said: “A future Labor government would invest in the biggest fire station building program in the Country Fire Authority’s history and that would see a direct benefit to the Dandenong Ranges.”
The Silvan and Menzies Creek stations will each get a new motor room, meeting room, kitchen, office, store rooms and amenities as part of the upgrades.
Silvan brigade captain Stuart Parker said Mr Merlino’s announcement was “very welcome to the Silvan brigade and community”.
“The biggest bonus for us is that the upgrades will make the station a lot safer.
“We’ll be able to use a dedicated turnout room rather than having to kit up in the engine bay with the trucks.”
Mr Parker said the station upgrades wouldn’t just benefit the Silvan brigade, but the whole local community. “The local progress association uses our facilities for monthly meetings as well,” he said.
“This will be great for them in that they can use the new meeting room.”
Mr Merlino was full of praise for hills firefighters, saying they’re some of the most “committed and skilled” of any in Victoria.
“And these new fire stations will continue our strong support for all the work our volunteers do in keeping our community safe,” he said. “In my time as a local member so far, the (Silvan) station hasn’t changed.”
“We’re providing a rebuild to get it up to current CFA standards and to complement the firefighters.”
Mr Merlino will take over the emergency services portfolio after the election, should Labor be re-elected. He said the statewide station upgrades would be rolled out over four years, beginning next year.
Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills questioned the timing of the Government’s announcement, saying in response “James Merlino has had eight years as part of the Labor Government to fix local CFA stations but has ignored the needs of local volunteers.
“Now just 17 days from the election he is desperately playing catch up with vague promises that have no costings and no details.
“You just can’t trust him or Labor to deliver on their promises.”