By KATH GANNAWAY
New fire station to also provide fire refuge…
A NEW $1.45 million fire station at Millgrove will double as a community fire refuge.
Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells announced the project yesterday afternoon (Monday) at the Wesburn-Millgrove fire station saying construction would start later this year.
The announcement was part of the Community in Cabinet visit by Premier Denis Napthine and Cabinet Ministers to Yarra Ranges shire.
The new refuge will be the fourth for Victoria and the second in the Upper Yarra area after a community fire refuge was opened at East Warburton in December last year.
Representatives of the Fire Services Commissioner’s Office and Yarra Ranges Council were also at the announcement which has been hailed as a win-win for the Wesburn-Millgrove fire brigade and the local community.
Mr Wells said it was the job of the Fire Services Commissioner to identify the best refuge locations.
“Millgrove has been identified, by the Fire Services Commissioner, as a high bushfire risk area characterised by limited access and limited shelter options for the community,” Mr Wells said.
“Millgrove residents will soon have a last resort bushfire survival option in the event of a significant fire, as well as a new fire station that will boost community safety and improve facilities for local fire brigade members.”
He paid credit to Yarra Ranges Council saying the co-operation in developing refuges which were unprecedented in the world had been exceptional.
Wesburn-Millgrove fire brigade president and former brigade captain Brian Halit welcomed the news on behalf of the brigade which has been pushing for the dual purpose upgrade for some time.
“I think this is a win-win for the fire brigade and the wider community and the brigade would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the minister and to the Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley for his endeavours in achieving this outcome,” Mr Halit said.
Mr Halit said while the local school hall had been mooted as a possible refuge, the brigade had always believed an up-graded fire station would be the safest and the best option.
“We’re very pleased with the plan in terms of how it will serve the brigade on a day-to-day basis and the community should we need that refuge of last resort.
“At the end of the day, history has shown whenever there is that sort of need, people gravitate to the fire station, so it makes sense to have it here,” he said.
The design is based on the co-located CFA station and community fire refuge built at Blackwood and will provide a new station with three large engine bays and updated facilities in a building that meets the stringent criteria for a refuge.
In the lead-up to the announcement, Mr Lapsley said the CFA site was a good option for the community and that agencies would work closely with Yarra Ranges Council to address any community needs.
“The provision of these last resort community shelter options are only considered when other options are extremely limited and Millgrove falls into this category,” Mr Lapsley said.
The refuge is not expected to be operating for the 2014/15 fire season however a designated Neighbourhood Safer Place at the Millgrove Recreation Reserve remains in place.
