By Kyra Gillespie
A Guy Government royal commission into the state’s fire services has been revamped by Emergency Services Shadow Minister Brad Battin.
Mr Battin spruiked the inquiry while visiting the Narre Warren North CFA with Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North, Vikki Fitzgerald on Tuesday 11 September.
Despite the announcement into fire service controversy by the State Opposition Leader in October last year, Mr Battin brought the election promise back in the minds of voters during the visit.
He also announced a new Ultra-Light Tanker for the Narre Warren brigade, under an elected Liberal Government.
The Ultra-Light Tanker will be a new addition to the brigade’s firefighting fleet, allowing volunteers to access tight and difficult spaces that are hard for its existing Heavy Tanker and Medium Pumper to navigate.
Narre Warren North CFA is a 100 per cent volunteer station with around 40 operational volunteer firefighters.
The brigade services a large area that includes urban residential areas, peri-rural properties and part of Lysterfield Lake Park.
It is expected that its volunteers will have responded to almost 300 calls by the end of this year.
“Volunteers selflessly give their time to serve their community – they deserve the best possible equipment and the respect of their State Government,” Mr Battin said.
“A Matthew Guy-led Liberal Government will deliver a new Ultra-Light Tanker to Narre Warren North CFA, enshrine the rights of volunteers in legislation, and deliver a Royal Commission in to the state’s fire services.”
Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North, Vikki Fitzgerald, said the new tanker is “vital” to the brigade’s endurance. “It is absolutely vital that the Narre Warren North CFA has the resources they need to fight fires, and protect our local communities when we need help, and this new Tanker will be a great asset providing that,” she said.
“The current facilities here at Narre Warren North are no longer acceptable for a station that services this area far and wide, and if I am elected as the Member for my local community, I will continue to provide the support they need.”
