Media Releases

The community of Tennyson today officially welcomed its new $383,000 fire station equipped with all the essential features required to improve community safety.

Representing Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan, Member for Rodney, Paul Weller said the new station replaced an out-dated shed and was a major boost for the historic brigade.

“For the residents of Tennyson and surrounds, this new station represents an investment in community safety,” Mr Weller said.

“This new building provides members with a more enjoyable and modern place from which to work, and includes a training and meeting space, which is an important focal point where the community can congregate.

“I am confident that the new station, which boasts 45 members of which 26 are operational, will cater for the brigade’s future needs for many years to come.”

Mr Weller said the 81-year-old brigade attended a range of incidents annually and provided invaluable support to surrounding brigades in the Northern Campaspe Group.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan said CFA members – both volunteers and full-time staff – were leaders in Victorian communities and dedicated to protecting lives and property.

“Local volunteer agencies such as the Tennyson Fire Brigade are the backbone of Victoria’s emergency service response,” Mr Ryan said.

“CFA is one of the world’s largest volunteer-based emergency service organisations, with more than 60,000 members, including 58,000 volunteers.

“CFA gains its strength from the commitment, selflessness, professionalism, bravery and tenacity of its volunteers.”

My Ryan said the State Government was investing $65.8 million towards 60 new or upgraded CFA stations and rolling out 101 new firefighting vehicles this financial year alone as part of an overall commitment to build and upgrade 250 CFA stations across Victoria by November 2014.

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller has opened a new $383,000 CFA fire station at Torrumbarry.

 

“Torrumbarry CFA’s 34 dedicated members will now be better equipped to deal with the threat of fire,” Mr Weller said.

 

“Replacing a small out-dated shed, the new fire station has improved training and meeting facilities, a well-equipped kitchen, large meeting room, office, storage rooms and toilet facilities and importantly, an expansion to cater for a second fire fighting vehicle,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said that Torrumbarry attracted many tourists, especially during the summer water skiing months and the annual Southern 80 boat race in February, and that the town would now be better prepared in the event on an emergency.

 

“The brigade’s main focus is bush and grass fire, motor vehicle accidents and supporting other brigades so this new facility will boost service capacity and provide a modern base for members to work,” he said.

 

The former fire station was built in 1975 and modified 20 years later to accommodate a 4-wheel drive fire fighting vehicle and later extended to fit a toilet and a meeting room.

 

Mr Weller said CFA members – both volunteer and full-time staff – were leaders in Victorian communities and were dedicated to protecting lives and property.

 

“Local volunteer agencies such as Torrumbarry CFA are the backbone of Victoria’s emergency service response,” he said.

 

The Victorian Coalition Government is investing $65.8 million towards new or upgraded CFA stations and is rolling out 101 new fire fighting vehicles this financial year as part of an overall commitment to build and upgrade 250 CFA stations across Victoria by November 2014.

 

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller spoke compassionately in parliament last week about the sombre anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires.

Mr Weller paid tribute to those who lost their lives and livelihoods in Australia’s worst fire disaster and asked those present to remember the CFA volunteers who risked their lives on this tragic day and continue to do so, especially during the fire season. 

“In our Rodney Electorate we were fortunate to avoid any major effects of this extreme bush-fire day, with the Redesdale fire the only one affecting us, blazing at the southern end of our electorate," Mr Weller said.

“On this third anniversary of the devastating fires it is timely to acknowledge and thank our CFA volunteers who were on constant stand-by on Black Saturday to assist in controlling these terrifying fires,” he said.

Mr Weller said the volunteers in every CFA group within our electorate are all members of our community and give up their precious time to protect both the people and properties of our towns and rural areas.

“All CFA volunteers are at-the-ready every day of the year to come to our aid in the event of a fire and regularly sacrifice important tasks in their homes, businesses or on their farms to ‘drop everything’ and come to our aid in the event of a fire,” he said.

CFA volunteers come from many walks of life in our community, including self-employed business people, mothers at home, students and retirees and all have a common goal – to serve the community in the event of a fire.

“We are thankful so far this bushfire season to not have had the extreme weather conditions of previous years and can feel secure in the fact that our many CFA volunteers are ready to fight fires and protect lives and properties at a minutes notice,” Mr Weller said.

Mr Weller said the anniversary is a timely opportunity to thank our CFA volunteers and to acknowledge that if a situation arose they wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand to other volunteer fire fighters across Victoria, or indeed Australia - and for this, we should be thankful.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has encouraged residents to have their say about the proposed new Fire Services Levy during a second stage of public consultation.

The Victorian Coalition Government is implementing the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommendation that the State replace the Fire Services Levy with a property-based levy and introduce concessions for low-income earners.

Mr Weller encouraged all interested community members to read the consultation paper and attend a forum to contribute their thoughts on the final design and implementation of the new levy.

“More than 100 written submissions have already been received and the government is now holding community forums to give members of the community a chance to discuss the consultation paper options and provide their feedback directly,” he said.

“The new levy will ensure all Victorian property owners pay a fair contribution for fire services, and that fire services continue to operate with sufficient resources.”

Community forums will be held in Shepparton on 31 October at 6pm at the Quality Hotel Parklake, 481 Wyndham Street, and in Bendigo on 16 November at 6pm at the RL Campbell Theatrette, Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves Street.

The period for written submissions closed on 30 September 2011.

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government intended to introduce the new legislation in early 2012.

He said there would be a transition period that would commence on 1 July 2012 to allow insurers to phase out the existing insurance-based levy prior to full implementation from 1 July 2013.

Further information about the Fire Services Levy is available online at www.dtf.vic.gov.au.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has welcomed a Coalition Government decision to abolish permits for firewood collection on public land.

From 1 September 2011 residents will be able to collect firewood for domestic use without the need to obtain a permit.

Mr Weller said the changes would make firewood collection on public land easier and more affordable, particularly for those living in regional Victoria.

“The new approach will reduce the burden of red tape put in place under the previous Labor Government and make it easier for households to access an annual supply of firewood,” he said.

“We know firewood is an important source of heating for many Victorians during winter and this new policy approach will make sure it continues to be available.”

Mr Weller said residents could continue to collect firewood for domestic use during autumn and spring, between March 1 and June 30 and September 1 and November 30.

He said the government had considered more collection times outside of spring and autumn.

“After carefully weighing the options and taking into account public feedback, the Minister has decided to maintain existing collection times.

“The threat of bushfires over summer and the risk of damaging forest access tracks during wet weather during winter were key factors in the decision to maintain current collection times.”

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has encouraged residents to enter the 2011 Fire Awareness Awards.

The awards recognise the hard work of individuals, groups and organisations in fire projects across Victoria and provide an important opportunity for people to share their contribution, expertise and experience.

Mr Weller said the awards were open to anyone involved in projects that aimed to reduce the frequency, severity or impact of fires anywhere in Victoria.

He said projects could cover any fire type, including home and building fires and bushfires.

“Eight of the 15 award categories are community-based awards, including categories such as Recovery, Community Preparedness, Aged/Disability and Volunteer,” he said.

“In addition to the awards, there are financial grants available to further develop fire safety projects or ideas, including a $10,000 RACV Insurance Fire Innovation grant and $2,000 Special Incentive grants.”

Mr Weller said to be eligible, projects should focus on fire safety, awareness, prevention, response or recovery.

Entries close at 4pm on Friday September 30, 2011.

Winners of the Fire Awareness Awards and the grants would be announced at the awards ceremony on December 1, 2011 at the RACV Club in Melbourne.

To enter or find out more, visit: www.fireawarenessawards.com.au or phone 9412 4465.

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has encouraged residents to make a submission on the new fire services funding model for Victoria.

A community consultation paper for the design and implementation of a fairer, more equitable system to fund fire services was released last week.

Mr Weller said the consultation was the first step in introducing a significant and long-overdue reform to ensure Victoria’s fire services were appropriately funded.

He said the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended that ‘the State replace the Fire Services Levy with a property-based levy and introduce concessions for low-income earners’.

“The Coalition Government has adopted all Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations and will introduce a new levy that ensures all Victorian property owners pay a fair contribution to the state’s fire services, while ensuring Victoria’s fire services continue to operate with sufficient resources.

“I encourage people to read the consultation paper and make a submission to inform the final design and implementation for the new FSL.”

Mr Weller said the Fire Services Levy (FSL) should have been scrapped by the former Labor Government years ago.

“Until just prior to the election, Labor refused to listen to the concerns of Victorians call =ing for the FSL to be abandoned.

“All Victorians understand the need to have well-funded fire fighting services and the release of this consultation paper is an important step in implementing this new approach.”

Mr Weller said the consultation paper outlines out the Coalition Government’s proposal to replace the current funding model with a new property-based fire services levy.

“The Government intends to introduce legislation in early 2012,” he said.

“There will be a transition period that will commence on July 1, 2012 to allow insurers to phase out the FSL prior to full implantation from July 1, 2013.”

The consultation paper is available at www.dtf.vic.gov.au and submissions close on September 30.

Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has called for quick action to slash high grass on district roadsides.

 

“I have had concerns raised by constituents about the safety hazards being posed by prolific grass growth on roadsides, particularly at intersections.

 

“I share that concern, as I travel a lot of these roads right around the electorate, and I have been noticing it myself. The high grass can certainly cut off a line of vision at some corners,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the other concern with the long grass was the possibility of roadside fires starting during the hot months ahead.

 

“”With the great rainfall we have been receiving and a good spring upon us, the grass is going to continue to grow and to become more prolific.

 

“I am asking VicRoads and where responsible, local councils, to act quickly to get on top of this problem now. Hopefully, the issue will be recognised by the State Government and the appropriate levels of funding provided to enable this work to be carried out,” Mr Weller said.

The plight of a child minding centre located close to a major fire hazard area is being ignored by the State Government, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said this week.

 

The child minding centre operates at Morgan’s Mill alongside the Barmah National Park at Ulupna Creek, and local residents are concerned at the dangers presented with the coming fire season.

 

Mr Weller said he had been approached by local residents who say they are “very concerned” by the lack of fuel reduction work in Morgan’s Mill, Waser Rd, Crawford Rd area to the junction of Ulupna Creek.

 

“There is a child minding centre at Morgan’s Mill catering for children of various ages, as well as the Murray River Hideway tourist park nearby, which caters for a large number of tourists.

 

“The residents have deep concerns about the possibility of wildfire causing loss of life and injury to people and livestock, as well as damage to properties.

 

“They say they have requested Parks Victoria and the Department of sustainability and Environment to carry out fuel reduction, but have been very disappointed with the result.

 

“The residents say that by this summer, the park will be dryer than gunpowder.” He said.

 

Mr Weller said that he had now written to the Minister for the Environment, Gavin Jennings, asking what plans were in place for a fire meeting or consultation with local residents on fuel reduction plans from Morgan’s Mill Rd to Picola West.

 

“We hear a lot from the minister and the Premier about the need for people to be fire ready, and yet we have here a major fire hazard which has the potential to cause a real tragedy and local people cannot even get a response to their concerns.

 

“With the fire season very fast approaching, we need a quick response and I will certainly be pressing the minister for exactly that,” he said.

The Brumby Government has turned its back on undertakings given to the state’s 58,000 volunteer fire-fighters, according to Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller.

 

Mr Weller said the decision by the government and the Country Fire Authority leadership to conduct and finalise EBA negotiations based on discussions with the Fire Fighters Union but by-passing the volunteers was now causing major unrest.

 

“The Government is party to a CFA Volunteers Charter signed by all parties, but it has chosen to ignore these obligations in order to deal directly with the union. It is a slap in the face for volunteers, who are such a vital part of the state’s fire-fighting system,” he said.

 

Mr Weller, himself a volunteer fire-fighter with the Lockington brigade, said the new deal would affect volunteers in a number of ways, and they should have been involved in all stages of the discussions.

 

“I understand that the new deal over-rides the CFA chief officer’s decision making powers and excludes CFA volunteers from having an effective say over matters that directly affect their brigades and the local communities.

 

“It also determines and limits how training will be managed by the CFA, it dictates how paid support can be provided to volunteer brigades regardless of need and it blocks volunteers from being employed in roles that they are qualified to do,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said the new deal covered paid CFA staff, who represent one per cent of the total CFA workforce, and excludes the rights of 58 000 volunteers.

 

“I am very concerned that these actions will have an adverse effect on both the working conditions and morale of the volunteers, who so bravely confront infernos threatening communities right around the state.

 

“Quite obviously the Brumby Government wanted to lock away a deal with its union mates prior to the coming November election, and it was prepared to abandon the volunteer fire-fighters to get that result. Volunteers are angry about this, and they have every right to be,” Mr Weller said.