By Mitchell Clarke
Plans to build a brand new SES facility – more than three decades in the making – have finally broken ground in Emerald.
The new facilities are set to span 2,400 square metres and will support the Emerald unit’s 65 active volunteers to train and prepare for emergencies.
Located along Belgrave-Gembrook Road, the building is set to include five motor bays, administrative offices, a training room, wellbeing area for volunteers, and a turn out area to facilitate efficient operations.
“VICSES Emerald volunteers are some of the busiest in the state and with continued population growth in the area, we need to ensure they are well-equipped to continue supporting the community,” Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said.
The project forms part of the State Government’s $54 million investment in SES facility infrastructure.
The new facility will ensure the unit can expand their response across the growing Cardinia Shire and Yarra Ranges communities and continue to assist Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria.
Labor Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing said it was “wonderful” to see the new site start to come to life.
“We’ve worked closely with local communities and VICSES in developing this fit-for-purpose facility,” Ms Shing said.
“They are a magnificent group of volunteers who deserve the best and most modern facilities we can provide, to assist them in their incredible work.
“It will deliver state of the art amenities to an SES base that is one of Victoria’s busiest and provide our dedicated volunteers with the equipment and space they need to effectively respond to incidents and continue to train and recruit volunteers.”
It will also mean all vehicles can finally be housed on site – with response times also set to improve.
For volunteers, it’s a much needed – and highly awaited – upgrade.
Emerald SES controller Ben Owen said the announcement on Friday 30 October had been a long time coming.
“It’s going to be 90 percent better than where we are now,” Mr Owen said.
“It’s obviously exciting times for us here. It’ll be good to be able to move into a bigger and better facility and carry out our operations from there.”
Mr Owen, who has been volunteering for 16 years, said a new facility was first promised in 1986.
“This has been really political. We made it political because we’ve just been so close so many times,” he explained.
Liberal Gembrook MP Brad Battin said while waiting for their new unit, SES volunteers had protected the community, while operating from a place that many wouldn’t call a safe workplace.
“It was great when then Minister James Merlino finally matched the Liberal commitment to build a new unit – however that was in 2014. Since then all we have heard is excuses,” Mr Battin said.
“I note the MP who this week put out a media release to say it is starting has never made a comment in past, and now wants credit for something I have worked with the local volunteers for years on.
“My congratulations goes to Ben and his team, they are the true spirit of community and deserve this new unit, although very late.”
Servicing the community since 1986, Emerald volunteers are among the most active in Victoria.
This year alone, the unit has responded to 1225 requests for assistance.
The current site on Old Gembrook Road will be handed back to Cardinia Shire Council.
The new state-of-the-art facility, which will be built by FIMMA Constructions, is due to be completed in August 2021.
