Foster fire station funds go missing

THE STATE Government is being asked to explain what happened to funds previously promised for the Foster fire station rebuild as the Minister for Emergency Services confirms the project is currently unfunded.

Responding to questions raised last August by The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, the Minister advised that the project is “not currently funded for replacement, including land acquisition, and have no firm timeframe for funding at this time”*.

Mr O’Brien said the State Government must now explain where funds previously set aside by the CFA for the project have gone.

“The Foster brigade and wider community celebrated when a new fire station was scheduled in the CFA capital budget for completion in the 2023-24 financial year, so it is extremely disappointing to all involved to hear that that money has been pulled,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The current Foster fire station, along with those in Korumburra and Mirboo North, are too small and insufficient for modern needs. 

“The flow-on impact of failing to provide new fit-for-purpose modern stations means that these brigades are also denied much-needed new fire trucks as the new modern trucks simply can’t fit through the out-dated fire station doors.

“There is also an OHS issue in that there is not enough space for volunteers to change into fire gear next to moving trucks.”

Mr O’Brien said after working with the Foster community for years to secure these funds, he is now calling on the State Government to provide answers as to why this project is no longer funded.

“The Foster community deserves a new fire station and it should now be funded in the coming state budget.

*“This is a matter of community safety and is not a project where funds should be being cut.”