Andrews neglects CFA stations: women forced to change in toilets
The Andrews Government is splashing millions on Fire Rescue Victoria stations, while female CFA volunteers get changed in the toilet.
Sixteen Fire Rescue Victoria career firefighters are enjoying the luxury of the gym, rec-room and internal courtyard of their new $12m Derrimut station, while 200km away 48 CFA volunteers cram into Rochester’s ageing station, built in 1963.
When there’s a call out, Rochester’s female volunteers have to use the toilet to get changed, while the men pull on their gear next to the truck.
It’s an image that frustrates Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria chief Adam Barnett, who said “the CFA needs long-term funding” for stations and trucks, not the current piecemeal approach that has left brigades fighting for funds.
State budget papers show the CFA has been granted $49.6m to build and upgrade some of its 1200 stations, while the union-dominated FRV has been allocated $120.6m towards its 85 stations.
The Buying for Victoria website shows the Victorian government contracted TPG in March “to supply optical fibre telecommunications links to FRV stations” at a cost of $9.7m.
In contrast Rochester CFA first lieutenant Brett Kyne said the brigade had to run a car rally last Saturday to raise funds to buy some smart screens to replace the old projector and screen they had been using for training.
Lt Kyne said the brigade was struggling to fit into a station that had been flooded in 2011, resulting in movement of the solid brick building that was now cracking.
The brigade did not even have a shower, because it was removed in order to fit another toilet for female volunteers, he said.
As for fitting all the appliances into the station, Lt Kyne said it was a bit like playing Tetris, “if you back up the truck too far you take out the quick fill”.
Rochester captain Luke Warren said the brigade had outgrown the station, like many others in Victoria, as “an influx of people settle here and in other towns, as houses become more expensive in Echuca, Bendigo and Shepparton”.
As for a new station, Captain Warren said “the shire is on board and the CFA is keen to help us out, but nothing happens”.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes did not respond to questions on station funding by deadline.
The Weekly Times is keen to talk to other CFA volunteers on brigade resourcing and stations and can contact Peter Hunt on peter.hunt@news.com.au
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