By Marcus Uhe
The promised Cranbourne State Emergency Service (SES) Unit that has not been delivered to the region is another example of the Labor government failing to deliver on their promises, according to Gembrook MP and Shadow Emergency Services Minister Brad Battin.
A unit for Cranbourne was announced in March 2018 by then-Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino, as part of a $34 million package to fund new equipment, vehicles and headquarters’ across Victoria in the 2017-18 state budget.
The issue was raised in Victorian Parliament by South Eastern Metropolitan MP Gordon Rich-Phillips on Wednesday 26 May, who asked Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes on why the commitment was not completed.
“It is fair to say that with Covid-19 there are some planning issues,” Ms Symes said.
“There are a few issues across some of the projects in relation to land availability, and we are working through every committed project to make sure that they can be brought back on track and delivered.
“But in relation to the Cranbourne SES project, I just do not have that level of detail on hand, but I am more than happy to get a briefing for you or take it on notice and provide you with a status update of that project.”
Land has been identified but not yet been purchased for the unit, according to the City of Casey,
“Council worked collaboratively with the Victorian SES to identify land suitable within Casey for the Cranbourne SES unit, and 1070i Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Cranbourne was identified as a suitable site,” Council’s acting manager for property and procurement, Thor Hansen said on Monday 30 May.
“Council anticipates the land sale to be completed in early July 2022.”
It comes just weeks after Police Minister Lisa Neville attributed difficulty in finding land for the Clyde North Police Station as one reason why the 24-hour station, promised in 2018 ahead of the state election with a 2022 expected completion date, would not meet its expected date of completion at Public Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry into 2022-23 Budget Estimates.
Mr Battin said this was developing into a pattern from the State Government.
“There is a common theme in Cranbourne and Clyde North, the Andrews Labor Government promised a lot prior to the 2018 state election, and are failing to deliver on those commitments,” he said.
“Clyde North Police Station and Cranbourne SES are vital services in the area, both promised, both don’t even have land at this time.
“It is time to change. Clyde North and Cranbourne have been taken for granted by Labor for too long.”
The facility is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023, with volunteer recruitment to begin in 2023, according to an SES spokesperson.
Damian Burns is the Unit Commander for the Narre Warren SES Unit, which is the primary response unit for incidents in the City of Casey.
Covering nearly 400 square kilometres of land across the City and responding to an average of 880 requests for help each year, Mr Burns said a unit in the south of Casey is needed.
“It takes us 40 minutes to travel from top to bottom (of Casey), from Lysterfield to Blind Bight,” Mr Burns said.
“Often at times when we have a big belt in weather, we need to call upon other units to help.
“We get help from Dandenong and Pakenham Units when we’re busy. Another unit in Casey would mean we are better positioned to help when we have great storms.
“Casey deserves to have more volunteers at the ready.
“These units are completely manned by volunteers. We’re not increasing the units to get more money or service. Our service is free and freely given.“
