TEN Wimmera Country Fire Authority brigades and State Emergency Services units will receive new equipment and vehicles.
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The 2019-20 round of the state government's Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program was announced on Monday. A total of 294 new grants were allocated across the state, totalling in $13.75 million.
The program funds operational equipment in addition to vehicles, trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers and minor facility upgrades.
CFA District 17 commander Lindsay Barry said brigades often applied grants but weren't always successful.
"It's fantastic that these brigades and units were successful. It's the community that directly benefits from these grants; the direct impact goes to the community," he said.
New funding includes renovations to Horsham's CFA building. Mr Barry said renovations would take place inside the building's breathing apparatus storage room.
"Those machines are so important for our crews when they go into the field, and it's crucial that they are stored and maintained properly," he said.
Green Lake CFA received a grant for a defibrillator machine.
"They are great pieces of equipment that a lot of stations around our area are starting to get," he said.
"Green Lake is an ideal location for this piece of equipment due to its close proximity to sporting facilities, the lake and the highway. They are also pieces of equipment that the whole community can use."
Jung CFA was successful in an application for a central tyre inflating system.
"It means crews can automatically deflate and inflate tyres on the run without having to do it manually. For example, if they were travelling through a sandy paddock, they could lower the tyre pressure to give them better traction," he said.
Rainbow and Laharum received grants for a replacement field command vehicle and a light tanker vehicle respectively. Mr Barry said these were replacement vehicles and there would be no additions to the fleet.
"The vehicles might have been overly old, but it's important to continue upgrading them. Laharum's new vehicle is especially important due to that brigade's close proximity to the Grampians," he said.
Full list of grant recipients:
- A field command vehicle and additional security at Ararat CFA
- A defibrillator for Bangerang CFA
- Renovations at Horsham CFA
- A defibrillator for Green Lake CFA
- A central tyre inflating system for Jung CFA
- A light tanker vehicle for Laharum CFA
- New shelving for Natimuk CFA
- A central; tyre inflation system for Neuarpurr CFA
- A field command vehicle and air conditioning at Rainbow CFA
- A Ford Ranger 4WD crew cad for Edenhope SES
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the grants program matched every $1 paid by volunteer groups with a $2 co-contribution.
"The volunteers in western Victoria make a vital contribution to our emergency services, responding to many incidents every year and through the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment program, we're providing our brigades, clubs and units with the essential equipment they need to carry out their work," she said.
"I'd like to thank all of our volunteer groups for their hard work and congratulate the successful applicants in the 2019-20 round of VESEP grants,."
The grants are open to the CFA, Life Saving Victoria, Victoria SES, Marine Search and Rescue units and other volunteer emergency services agencies.
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