The Baillieu-Ryan Government is refusing to provide funding to upgrade 20 Country Fire Authority stations in the Swan Hill region, Shadow Minister for Bushfire Response, Jacinta Allan said today.
Visiting Lake Charm CFA, Ms Allan said it was important the Baillieu-Ryan Government provided adequate funding for CFA stations fire brigades so they could protect communities from bushfires.
“It’s disappointing the Baillieu-Ryan Government has not provided the funding to match Labor’s commitment to upgrade or rebuild 250 CFA stations across Victoria,” Ms Allan said.
“In the Swan Hill region alone, 20 of the 25 stations are missing out on being upgraded or rebuilt because this Government is refusing to provide the funding that is needed.
“Lake Charm CFA members worked hard to protect the region when floods isolated the area from Kerang earlier this year.
“The Premier and the Minister for Bushfire Response, Peter Ryan need to do more to make sure CFA stations are properly resourced with state-of-the-art life-saving equipment and technology to give them confidence in tackling fires, floods and other emergency situations.”
Ms Allan said since Black Saturday, the former Labor Government held Fire Action Week in the first weeks of October to raise awareness about the upcoming fire season and encourage Victorians to prepare and plan.
“Under Mr Baillieu, Fire Action Week won’t be held until much later in the year,” Ms Allan said.
“The Opposition doesn't think this is good enough and we are encouraging people in the Swan Hill region to prepare for the fire season now.
“As part of Labor’s campaign to prepare Victoria, I am calling on Mr Baillieu and Mr Ryan to immediately invest in CFA stations to ensure they are properly resourced to tackle bushfires and other emergencies.”
Swan Hill CFA brigades not funded by the Baillieu-Ryan Government include: Barraport, Berrimal, Berriwillock, Boundary Bend, Buckrabanyule, Cannum, Charlton, Curyo, Gooroc, Gre Gre Village, Kellalac, Kooreh, Lake Charm, Marnoo, Meering West, Narraport, Navarre, Natya, Piangil, Sea Lake, Sheep Hills, Woosang, Wycheproof South, Yarrawalla South, and Yeungroon