By BRIDGET SCOTT
As elections draw to a close, Coalition announces $2.5m funding for emergency…
CRANBOURNE’S emergency response capabilities will receive a huge boost under a re-elected Napthine Government, with the announcement of $2.5 million for a new SES unit in the suburb.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Kim Wells joined Liberal candidate for Cranbourne Geoff Ablett on Monday to announce the proposed new unit.
Mr Ablett said the multi-million dollar commitment by a re-elected Coalition Government would help meet the needs of the growing community.
“The Napthine Government is building a better and safer Victoria to ensure Cranbourne and surrounding areas are better protected than ever before,” he said.
Currently, the Narre Warren SES unit attends jobs in Cranbourne and its surrounding areas.
“The population growth in Cranbourne has placed significant pressure on the Narre Warren SES volunteers who are the only SES unit in the area,” Mr Ablett said.
Controller of the Narre Warren SES unit Clinton Brown said it was great news for his team.
“It will totally alleviate the pressure that we face in being the only unit in one of the fastest growing municipalities,” Mr Brown said.
He said the amount of jobs they attended in Cranbourne and its surrounding areas varied.
“It’s hard to put a number to it,” he said.
The Narre Warren SES unit comprised around 45 members and Mr Brown said some of these would be shifted to the Cranbourne branch.
“Some members would move over to the Cranbourne unit to assist in setting it up and establishing it,” he said.
Mr Ablett said the Coalition Government had been working with the SES and the City of Casey to secure a suitable site, with land identified on Stevenson’s Road.
“The new facility would ensure a quicker emergency response for Cranbourne residents, bolster support to the Narre Warren Unit and attract more SES volunteers,” he said.
Mr Ablett said the volunteers from the Narre Warren unit attended around 500 callouts each year, many of which related to storms, flooding and general rescue.
They also provide support to other emergency service agencies such as the Victoria Police and CFA, he said.
“The new building will enhance the efforts of the SES and other emergency services during emergencies, and further enhance community protection for the Cranbourne electorate,” he said.
Mr Wells said emergency service workers were the backbone of Victoria’s emergency response and the Coalition was proud to support the people who kept Victorians safe.
Labor candidate for Cranbourne Jude Perera said, “Labor will have more to say in relation to our Police and Emergency Services.
“Unfortunately, over the last four years our local SES together with our local firemen, and local paramedics have been starved of much-needed funding,” he said.
“The Liberals have done an about turn when it comes to supporting our emergency services over their term in Government.”
