Coldstream's new fire station may be built just a few doors down from the current station, but it will be streets ahead in what it offers the brigade and its local community.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan (second from left) on Friday joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriett Shing (middle), Executive Director Infrastructure Services Anthony Ramsay (far left), District 13 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Colin Brown (far right) and Coldstream Captain Sean Bethell (second from right) at the turning of the sod as construction begins on the new Coldstream fire station.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan on Friday joined Member for Eastern Victoria Harriett Shing, Executive Director Infrastructure Services Anthony Ramsay, District 13 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Colin Brown, Coldstream Captain Sean Bethell and brigade members as the first sod was turned on the new $1.5 million fire station in Killara Road.
Chief Officer Heffernan said it was going to be exciting to see the new station take shape over the next few months.
"Coldstream is a really busy brigade that attends fires, motor vehicle accidents and many other emergency incidents on the urban fringe and throughout the Yarra Valley and indeed in support of other regions and states, and I'm really pleased to see this new station come to fruition," he said.
"As CFA moves forward as a volunteer-only firefighting organisation, we are committed to providing our firefighters with the best infrastructure, equipment and support that we can so we can continue to fulfill our mission of saving lives and property," Chief Officer Heffernan said.
The new fit-for-purpose, three engine bay station - the first of 16 replacement CFA stations to be built as part of a $126 million Victorian Government funding package designed to boost the capabilities of the CFA - will provide the Coldstream brigade's more than 40 members with a large meeting room for training and brigade meetings and better amenities including male and female change rooms, on-site parking, workshop, storage and other operational support areas.
Coldstream Captain Sean Bethell said it would be a big improvement on the current station, which was built by members in 1966 after the land was donated to the brigade.
"For the brigade, it's a big improvement to our capacity to support our own and neighbouring communities," he said.
The Coldstream Fire Brigade covers suburban and rural areas in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, and has a long history of protecting the community from threats of bushfires and grassfires and the upgraded station will ensure the brigade can continue to meet the demands of growing townships in urban and rural areas into the future.
Construction of the new station is expected to be completed in July 2021.
CO Heffernan met with Coldstream brigade members on Friday as construction of the new Coldstream fire station began.
