By Mitchell Clarke
Clyde firefighters will soon respond to emergencies from a brand new station, with the announcement their tired 44-year-old station will finally be replaced, under the State Government’s $126 million Fire Service Reform.
Under the replacement program, facilities in Clyde will be modernised to provide adequate motor room space to accommodate their vehicles and emergency appliances.
The new build will include improved amenities, and house areas for meetings and training, providing space for the brigade’s growing number of volunteers. There are currently 54 members, but that number is expected to rise as the suburb grows.
Clyde CFA brigade acting captain Lee Bostock said the announcement had been a long time coming.
“For the last three or four years, we’ve been pushing the CFA to start looking, but it’s the funding from the government that’s done it,” he said.
“We’re currently in a building that’s 44 years old and falling to bits, so this news from the Labor Government is fantastic.
“A lot of people seem to think Andrews’ Government had given up on the CFA, but they certainly came through and delivered the goods for us.”
While the State Government is currently looking at land options for the new station, A/C Bostock said he had identified a few locations of his own.
Those locations include the corner of Railway Parade and Clyde Five Ways Road, Ballarto Road and Clyde Five Ways Road or near the Inghams on Ballarto Road.
“They would be our ideal choices from a station perspective. For the core of the people we have, they come from around that area, so to get the truck out the door within our service delivery times would be good,” he said.
“We’re living in a station that has a lot of OH/S issues. There are termites in the walls and we’ve got spiders,” he added.
“We’re just jammed, there’s no room where we are at the moment so we really need this change. The bigger the Clyde area gets, the more people we’ll get, the better for the future of the brigade.”
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said the investment in the CFA would ensure volunteers will be equipped and ready for any weather event now, and into the future.
“I am so pleased to announce funds to acquire land for a new Clyde CFA station,” she said.
“It gives confidence to the brigade members that their service in protecting our community is truly valued, they will be able to better respond to all emergency call outs and grow their membership as well.”
