Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Ministers statements: Heathcote emergency services hub

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:15): I am going to use the opportunity today to talk about my visit to Heathcote with the Premier. There we met with local volunteers at the recently acquired site on Herriot Street, which is set to become the new co-located home of Heathcote VICSES and the CFA. The current CFA and VICSES facilities in Heathcote were severely affected by the October 2022 floods, and both agencies are facing growing demand as the Heathcote area grows and there is much interest from people to join these organisations. The new facility has been co-designed in consultation with the CFA and SES. It will provide a space for their combined 70 volunteer members to respond to and train and plan for future emergencies. The facility will feature seven drive-through motor bays and two ancillary sheds, and each agency will have their own administrative offices, turnout areas, laundry and stand-down areas as well as shared facilities that include a large training room, kitchen and storage areas.

Heathcote CFA fire brigade has a long and proud history, operating since 1902, and with 45 members they are going to go from strength to strength. They have attended many significant fire events, including Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 and Gippsland fires in 2019–20, and floods in 2010, 2011 and 2022. The Heathcote VICSES unit was established in 1985 and currently has 25 volunteers who respond to a significant number of road crash rescues along the Northern Highway, with 172 requests for assistance each year at the moment. More than $23 million has been provided by the Labor government for the new emergency services hubs in Heathcote and also Rochester, which as people would be aware, also sustained significant flood damage. While our emergency services prepare for the fire season, Victorians are urged to have their fire and emergency plans ready and prepare for the risks of grass and bush fires as well as, unfortunately, storms and floods. I look forward to keeping the house updated on the progress of these exciting projects.