New Cranbourne SES opens

VICSES Cranbourne Unit controller Brian McMannis, Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes, and Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards.

The new Cranbourne SES unit officially opened on Tuesday 3 December.

The newly built facility is located on the corner of Cranbourne-Frankston Road and Ballarto Road.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes joined Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards, VICSES officials and volunteers at the opening event in Cranbourne.

“Cranbourne has seen rapid growth over the last few years and I’m very proud to officially open this new VICSES unit so that we can ensure the needs of this community are met,” Ms Symes said.

She said the facility was designed to accommodate future growth and it was the first newly established SES unit to open since 2010 in Victoria.

The new Cranbourne Unit features six drive-through motor bays, a kitchen, training rooms and offices.

The facility has sustainable features, including water tanks, solar panels and a backup generator.

It will also serve as a training base and meeting facility for other emergency services, including Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria.

Since its establishment, the Cranbourne unit’s 41 active members have responded to more than 150 requests for assistance with storms, floods and rescues.

The facility has been designed to accommodate up to 90 volunteers to support a growing local population in the Casey region, which is expected to increase by more than 60 per cent by 2030.

The Cranbourne unit is among four new SES units set to be officially opened over the following week, in a major boost to the emergency response capability of the state.

The State Government has invested more than $38 million in building these four new units.

Additional funding of almost $3 million has also been provided to give volunteers the vehicles and equipment they need to perform their important work.

Each new unit will receive a medium rescue truck, a light rescue vehicle, a twin-cab support vehicle and a storm trailer.