A clear timeline for works on the main Bendigo fire station is urgently needed, The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has told Parliament.
Ms Broad has urged the Minister for Emergency Services to provide key details on when Bendigo firefighters will move out of their 40-year-old station in Hargreaves Street and when works to build the new station will be completed.
“The old fire station was built in 1983, when there were just five firefighters on a shift. Now there are more than double that number,” Ms Broad said.
“In 2019 the government announced that construction of a new station would begin in mid-2020.
“That was five years ago; it still has not begun.”
Ms Broad said a temporary station was constructed in Murphy Street, East Bendigo, and completed in March 2022. It was designed so firefighters could work from it while the main station was upgraded.
However, the temporary station has now sat empty for over three years.
“I raised this issue with the minister in February last year and was advised that the design of the new station was being finalised and that Fire Rescue Victoria would relocate to the temporary station, but this has not yet happened,” Ms Broad said.
“On behalf of the Bendigo firefighters and the communities they serve, I look forward to an update from the minister.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
