Port Fairy SES building condemned

They’re the backbone of a community in a crisis — but there has been a new twist in the long-running saga over the south-west emergency unit’s headquarters.

Port Fairy SES unit controller Stephen McDowell at Port Fairy SES headquarters which has been condemned because of a lack of government funding for upgrades.

A MONTH ago the volunteers of the Port Fairy SES rescued a family trapped by big surf on Griffiths Island — but now the unit itself needs saving.

A couple and their two children, aged 6 and 8, had walked across the causeway to the island but were unable to return because of wild weather.

It was one of about 50 callouts the unit has received in the Port Fairy region this year.

But on Friday its dilapidated Sackville St headquarters was condemned.

Unit commander Stephen McDowell confirmed the Victorian SES made the call due to health hazards at the building.

The unit has been at the base for more than 30 years, however, in the past eight years a leaking roof has caused damage to plaster, carpets and walls.

“There’s mould in the roof and carpet, which is a health issue,” Mr McDowell said.

A hygienist report completed two weeks ago found mould in the building’s frame that could not be removed.

“Given the report from the hygienist and other electrical issues the decision was made (on Friday) that the building would be condemned and we can no longer operate out of here for safety reasons,” Mr McDowell said.

Mr McDowell said while there were no plans to close the unit, the future was bleak without funding.

“As a unit we’re really nervous where we’re heading from here,” he said.

“If we don’t see funding in (Thursday’s state budget) in reality it would be another 2½ years before we would be in a facility, and what that means for us as a unit we’re not really sure.”

The unit has secured land to build a new base alongside the CFA on Princes Highway at the former Ambulance Victoria site.

Plans are complete and council approvals granted but Port Fairy SES needs $2m in state funding.

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said she had lobbied the government on the unit’s plight since entering parliament in 2015.

“It’s absolutely appalling that nearly six years from my first visit to see the conditions at the Port Fairy SES that mould is embedded into the framework to such a degree that it’s uninhabitable and condemned,” Ms Britnell said.

A spokesman for the government said: “All emergency services proposals for funding are carefully assessed and those who are successful will be announced in line with the 2021 budget.”

Port Fairy SES has 15 operational six non-operational volunteers and they average 120-140 callouts a year, assisting agencies including police, ambulance and the CFA at emergencies such as road accidents, floods and storm surges.

In October last year the SES unit responded to 75 callouts to a major flood in Port Fairy. The callouts included houses being flooded, sandbagging to stop others going under water and water over roads.

Mr McDowell said the unit would look to move its equipment out of the condemned site in the coming weeks providing it could find a suitable site to lease, while its vehicles would be stored at private residences and a satellite facility in Koroit.

“We can’t even move gear out of here because we’ve got nowhere to put it,” Mr McDowell said.

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