By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Years of campaigning has paid off with the State Government announcing Cranbourne will have an SES unit built.
In a move no one expected, the budget also allocates funding towards establishing two other SES units to service the Clyde and Officer areas.
Community groups, Casey council and the Narre Warren SES unit have been working hard alongside Cranbourne MP Jude Perera to bring an SES unit to Cranbourne.
Narre Warren SES Clinton Brown said the addition of an SES unit in Cranbourne would take a lot of pressure off the busy Narre Warren unit.
“It’s going to improve the organisation’s and service’s ability to respond in the local area,” he said.
“It will cut the response time to emergencies at places like Pearcedale, Warneet and Cranbourne by about 20 minutes.”
Mr Brown said it had been more than five years that the Narre Warren SES as well as various community groups had been calling for a second unit in the region.
The 2017-’18 State Budget was officially released at 1pm on Tuesday 2 May, and it was announced $2 million will be allocated for the construction of the new Cranbourne SES unit and $2 million each for the Clyde and Officer units.
Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino said the allocation of funding for a SES unit at Cranbourne is a win for volunteers and the community.
“A local unit in Cranbourne is a great outcome for this community, and ensures that its hardworking SES volunteers are close by in an emergency,” he said.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera also said the new unit would be a great benefit to the growing Cranbourne region.
“As our community grew, it became very clear that we needed our own depot,” he said.
“With a lot of support from local SES members and the community, I’m proud to say we’ve delivered.“
“It’s only right that we give back to the men and women who give so much to this community.“
