CFA members have gathered with Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) members in Heathcote to celebrate the beginnings of two new emergency service hubs in the northwest of the state.
The facilities located in Heathcote and Rochester, will bring CFA and VICSES together under one roof to strengthen community resilience and improve collaboration between the two agencies.
The hubs are being built in response to the major floods that swept through the region in 2022.
During the floods, the Heathcote CFA station was used to house both VICSES and CFA, as the VICSES station was destroyed by flood waters.
The new emergency service hub will replace the Heathcote CFA station.
The Rochester emergency service hub will also replace the Rochester SES and CFA facilities that were both affected by the floods.
The new co-located hubs will provide modern, flood-resilient facilities for both agencies.
Featuring seven motor bays, dedicated operational areas, training and administration spaces, and sustainable design features including solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy efficient building services, the hubs will future proof both agencies from future disasters and allow volunteers to seamlessly support their communities.
Deputy Chief Officer for the North West Region Trevor Weston said the hubs were a welcome addition to the CFA brigades in both Heathcote and Rochester.
"We are always looking for ways to work better together with our emergency service counterparts," Trevor said.
"We have taken many learnings from the devastating events of 2022 and we know these facilities will improve service capability for both of those communities."
