CFA attention

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
RED tape, flood plains, funding…Warburton CFA has struggled to get a new station for 15 years.
That dream was finally realised on Sunday 2 September at the official opening of the new Warburton fire station.
After an election promise in 2006 and an allocation of funds from the state budget, the frustrating problem of those involved had been the task of finding and purchasing a suitable site.
It took three years to find that site, on the corner of Park Road and Warburton Highway, and a further two years to demolish the existing houses and build the new station.
The current State Government honoured the funding promise, and the new station cost $1.65 million to build through the CFA’s capital works program.
The site itself was purchased for $700,000 through the CFA land and building program.
Warburton CFA brigade captain Tony Van Meurs said Warburton was a beautiful place to live with its meandering river and big hills, but that didn’t make it easy to find a flat piece of land for a new station.
“We had several sites in mind that turned out to be inappropriate,” he said.
“Lex (de Man), Tammy (Lobato) and Barry (Marshall) worked hard to convince the owner of this block of land to sell to us.
“Brad Battin and Peter Ryan said they would honour the funding and have it built within their first term of government which has been done.”
It has been a community project from the start, the captain said, “just about everyday you’d notice someone standing at the fence peering through”.
“It’s not just a tin shed.”
The site has double access – no more backing into the main street risking lives amidst traffic – and parking facilities for the members.
In addition to more space and storage there is a proper turnout/change room, separate toilets for both male and female members, a workshop and maintenance room, onsite training facilities for pumping, additional office space and a meeting room.
“Fifteen years has been a long time to get this up and running but we will keep it going for future generations,” he said.
Former captain Barry Marshall spoke about the brigade’s rich history from its inception in 1915 with a 600 foot hose, one hydrant and two branches to its present attendance averaging 100 incidents a year with 42 members.
Mr Marshall has added to the station’s rich history by taking a photograph every day of the station build, which was shown in a montage.
CFA board member John Peberdy said the new station would further enable the brigade to protect the lives and property of its community for many years to come.
District 13 Operations Manager Don Tomkins said the members made up several hundred years of service.
“This dedication to their community would not be achieved without the support of their families,” he said.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin said the process for the new station had begun a long time ago, and he thanked his predecessor Tammy Lobato for her advocacy with the brigade.
“CFAs are more than just fighting fires and attending car crashes,” he said.
“There are their own communities, somewhere for men and women to feel safe and you’re very lucky to have a strong station.”
Casey MP Tony Smith said in a society there could be no prouder title than volunteer.
“You’re all walking in a tradition that began 100 years ago,” he said.
“You have a very proud history and a very strong future.