CFA backs its decision amid calls to connect Bellbrae station to water main

The Country Fire Authority has defended its decision to not connect a Surf Coast fire brigade to water after a petition to state parliament was launched by an aspiring politician.

Bellbrae fire station is not connected to the town's water supply. Picture: Google Maps

The Country Fire Authority has defended its decision to not connect a Surf Coast fire brigade to water after a petition to state parliament was launched by an aspiring politician.

Firefighters in Bellbrae are currently having to fill up their trucks in Torquay for weekly training because the local unit is not connected to the water main that runs through the town, which supplies the primary school, public hall, and recreation reserve.

Volunteers instead rely on two 22,000L rainwater tanks.

A CFA spokesman said it was aware of the situation.

“We acknowledge that Bellbrae is a rural community with limited reticulated water infrastructure, and the Bellbrae fire station, like many properties in the township, is not connected to the water main,” he said.

“CFA explored the feasibility of connecting to the nearby primary school’s water supply, however, Barwon Water advised that the infrastructure’s capacity is limited, and broader network upgrades would be required.

“Given the brigade’s existing infrastructure and operational access to water, CFA has assessed that the current supply meets the needs of day-to-day brigade operations.”

CFA tankers can carry up to 10,000L of on-board water, while pumpers carry up to 2000L.

Bellbrae volunteer and Corangamite Liberal candidate Darcy Dunstan last week launched a petition that asks for $100,000 to connect the station to water.

He described the current situation as “worse than a pub with no beer”.

The petition, sponsored by Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur, has garnered more than 160 signatures as of Friday.

Bellbrae CFA acts as a major staging area if a bushfire was to break out on the eastern flank of the Otway Ranges.

Without access to water supply, it is doubtful there would be adequate resources for arriving crews in the event of a catastrophic fire.

Despite this, the CFA has contingencies in place to navigate Bellbrae’s finite resources.

“While Bellbrae Fire Station plays an important role in local firefighting response, there are several larger locations nearby that can serve as staging posts in the region,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as CFA backs its decision amid calls to connect Bellbrae station to water main