By Kathryn Bermingham
THE captain of Clematis CFA believes a funding shortfall will affect response times and jeopardise the safety of firefighters and motorists.
Last weekend, the CFA temporarily moved operations to the site of Emerald’s former police station while work on a new fire station is underway.
But the funding allocated to the upgrade did not include the $35,000 required for a safety intersection, which would allow departing firetrucks quick and easy access to Wellington Road.
Captain Jarryd Miller said the lack of funding presented serious hazards.
“It’s about not only the safety of our members but the public,” Captain Miller said.
“It’s quite common for us to actually sit by the end of the road here as a fire call happens and sit here for 30 seconds to a minute.
“Especially at peak hour, it’s a pain getting out. There will be an accident.”
On Friday 12 February, MP for Gembrook Brad Battin met with CFA volunteers at the station to discuss the implications of the shortfall.
“The funding was allocated for the entire station, and when you upgrade a station on roads this busy, you put in a safety intersection,” he said.
“You only need to stand here between 4pm and 5.30pm and you’ll see the amount of cars that come through, and these guys need to be able to get out safely.”
He added that the brigade gets called out over 100 times each year, and said that Wellington Road was so busy that it was the subject of calls for duplication.
The new building is expected to be complete by July.
