The Mirboo North CFA has welcomed Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien’s announcement of $2.1 million for the construction of a new fire station in the town if the Coalition wins November’s state election.
Mirboo North CFA Captain Kevin West said the community and volunteers “badly” needed a new fire station.
“It has been a long time coming,” Captain West said.
“It is a very tight station – the trucks are getting bigger and there is not much room at all. “We just don’t have the room to support people to do the jobs the best they could.”
Captain West said he had seen preliminary plans for the proposed station which could still change.
The proposed station would include a drive-through mechanism so trucks did not have to reverse out, men’s and women’s change rooms, larger facilities and bigger and better training grounds.
“The volunteers deserve it,” he said.
“They work hard and they train every Thursday night.
“The training ground at the side of the [current] station is a concrete slope. There is hardly any flat ground.
“The new property we are looking at will have a training area in it that will be much better.”
Mr O’Brien said the volunteer firefighters did a lot for the community and deserved to have modern, up-to-date facilities that were fit-for-purpose.
“This new facility will be a better place for the volunteers to operate from and will help them better protect the Mirboo North community,” he said.
“The current station is not big enough to adequately cater for modern trucks, with firefighters forced to change in limited space right next to the trucks which is dangerous.
“It’s also over several floors meaning it’s not disability compliant, there’s limited onsite parking for volunteers and the facility is generally not fit for purpose in 2018.”
The Mirboo North CFA has welcomed Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien’s announcement of $2.1 million for the construction of a new fire station in the town if the Coalition wins November’s state election.
Mirboo North CFA Captain Kevin West said the community and volunteers “badly” needed a new fire station.
“It has been a long time coming,” Captain West said.
“It is a very tight station – the trucks are getting bigger and there is not much room at all. “We just don’t have the room to support people to do the jobs the best they could.”
Captain West said he had seen preliminary plans for the proposed station which could still change.
The proposed station would include a drive-through mechanism so trucks did not have to reverse out, men’s and women’s change rooms, larger facilities and bigger and better training grounds.
“The volunteers deserve it,” he said.
“They work hard and they train every Thursday night.
“The training ground at the side of the [current] station is a concrete slope. There is hardly any flat ground.
“The new property we are looking at will have a training area in it that will be much better.”
Mr O’Brien said the volunteer firefighters did a lot for the community and deserved to have modern, up-to-date facilities that were fit-for-purpose.
“This new facility will be a better place for the volunteers to operate from and will help them better protect the Mirboo North community,” he said.
“The current station is not big enough to adequately cater for modern trucks, with firefighters forced to change in limited space right next to the trucks which is dangerous.
“It’s also over several floors meaning it’s not disability compliant, there’s limited onsite parking for volunteers and the facility is generally not fit for purpose in 2018.”
