By ANEEKA SIMONIS
AN OVERWORKED emergency service, which is struggling to keep volunteers, has been forced to face new hardships following news that it won’t receive a cent in the 2016-17 state budget.
It was a harsh blow for Emerald State Emergency Service (SES) members who said their cramped, 30-year-old station’s poor facilities had driven away volunteers.
Female volunteers seem to be the hardest to keep, with many shying away from the unit – listed as one of the state’s busiest – which has been forced to operate with a single unisex toilet and no showers.
Unit Captain Ben Owen said more than 50 per cent of female volunteers left the under-resourced unit in the past 12-months.
About a month ago, a portaloo was installed on the property but other facilities will not be improved anytime soon.
However the State Government said it is not to blame for the funding drought and suggested that responsibility lay with VICSES.
The state Labor government contributed more than $51 million to VICSES in the 2016-17 budget and specific allocations were decided by VICSES.
But this was no comfort to Mr Owen who said the lack of funds put further restraints on volunteers and their ability to respond to emergency calls quickly and safely.
“It was a long drawn-out process and we are still waiting for money to build what we need here,” he said.
The unit attends more than 1000 call-outs a year, providing vital assistance during road accidents, storms and floods.
Its station is regularly described as a ‘tin shed’ and volunteers said the outdated site presents many obstacles which made it difficult for volunteers to meet their eight minute response target.
The unit has applied for upgrades including installation of two new training rooms, added storage and bathroom facilities.
Mr Owen estimated the upgrades would cost $1.5 million.
The former Coalition Government committed $1.8 million to rebuild the station in the lead-up to the election.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin took a swipe at the government for “ignoring” the overworked unit, claiming the lack of funds will add to its struggle to recruit volunteers.
“In the last 12 months I have presented a petition, written to the Minster, spoken in Parliament and invited the Minister to visit Emerald, and the Minister still refuses to listen to the unit’s members,” he said.
“Daniel Andrews continues to snub our local volunteers and the failure of his government to support our hard-working volunteers with the respect they deserve.”
A State Government spokesperson earlier told the Gazette that it would work with the emergency response service prior to the budget release.
“The Government acknowledges the demands that are placed on SES units across Victoria.
“We continue to work with the SES and councils to help meet these challenges,” the spokesperson said in April.
VICSES can apply for funding through the Victorian Government’s $1.38 million Valuing Volunteers Program which is aimed at developing innovative volunteer initiatives and pilot programs that support a robust volunteering culture state-wide.
Units can also apply for grants through the Victorian Government’s $12.8 million Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).
Applications are now open for grants of up to $100,000 to purchase operational equipment, vehicles and for minor facility improvements.
