By Charlene Macaulay
The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is still searching for land to build two new Wyndham fire stations, nearly 15 months after the state government allocated $7.5 million towards the projects.
In July 2017, the state government announced $3.75 million apiece for the Truganina and Wyndham Vale fire brigades to build permanent bases and cope with population growth, with $1.5 million to be put towards buying land for each site and $2.25 million to build the stations.
Both stations were expected to be complete by June 2019, but land has yet to be acquired for either station.
A Country Fire Authority spokesperson said the organisation was still searching for suitable land for the stations and therefore could not provide construction timelines.
“As land is still to be secured, the stations are now not expected to be completed by June 2019,” the spokesperson said.
“The Truganina and Wyndham Vale brigades will continue to operate from their current stations until the new stations are operational, with no impact on service delivery.”
Currently, Truganina fire brigade is leasing a site on Leakes Road and has separate buildings for the motor room, a meeting room and storage shed. A new station will put all this under one roof.
Meanwhile, a new Wyndham Vale fire station is expected to be up to four or five times bigger than the current Ballan Road premises and would allow the crew to expand its numbers.
