Residents “horrified” after plans for new fire station lodged

A controversial proposal to build a $3.8 million fire station in Lara has locals fuming. Here’s why.

A $3.8 million new fire station in Lara will be built at a controversial Windermere Road site if plans for the project are approved by council.

Fire Rescue Victoria this week lodged plans for the new station to the City of Greater Geelong.

Plans reveal the new site would be manned 24/7 by a group of up to 12 professional firefighters at any one time.

Those firefighters are currently based at the existing Mill Road Lara Fire Station which would become a volunteer only site when the new station opens.

According to planning documents the proposed Windermere Road site would be a “dedicated station for career firefighters” unlike other Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authorities co-located fire stations that support a volunteer presence.

A Lara community group has hit out at the proposed location for a new fire station. Township of Lara Care Group President Barry White pictured.

But locals say they are “horrified” the state government and Fire Rescue Victoria are ploughing ahead with planning to build the station at the Windermere Road location despite strong community objection.

In submission documents deputy commissioners Martin Braid and David Bruce said analysis and growth projections had indicated the number of fire call-outs in the area would increase from an existing 554 to 1000 call outs each year in the near future.

“In order to provide appropriate emergency response coverage for the area, it was determined that a new fire station in Lara with permanent 24/7 staff operating was required,” they said.

Township of Lara Care Group President Barry White said the proposed site was the “wrong location” and too closed to the existing Mill Road site.

“In essence, we are horrified that they are going to proceed with it at that location,” he said.

Mr White said locals believed the new fire station should be built to the west of Lara to allow for a quicker response time to a new residential development and the prison precinct.

He said the community was also concerned noise from the proposed Windermere Road site could travel to the nearby Serendip Sanctuary and disturb wildlife.

But, Mr Braid and Mr Bruce said in their submission that the chosen site was selected because of “its capacity to provide the best service to the community of Lara” which address various threats outlined in the community’s risk profile.

The submission states the area is home to several high risk facilities including Avalon Airport, Avalon Raceway, a Cotton On Group distribution facility, multiple major prisons and Chemring Australia Pty Ltd which produces electronics and explosives.

The application is open for public submissions and no decisions will be made until at least February 17.

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Originally published as Residents “horrified” after plans for new fire station lodged