State election: Fire station pledge for Buninyong

A new, improved $1.5 million fire station could soon be built in Buninyong – if Labor is elected next month.

Opposition emergency services spokesman Wade Noonan last week joined local Labor MPs Geoff Howard and Sharon Knight at the Buninyong CFA station to announce Labor’s plans for the new building.

Buninyong CFA captain Marc Cannan welcomed the announcement, with his crew equally as excited about the plans.

“It’s good to have some commitment because it’s been in discussion for some time now,” he said.

“We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to have a new facility in Buninyong.

“The station in its current state is slowly falling into disrepair. Like any old building, it requires upgrading. It’s old and needs to be replaced.”

Mr Cannan said the current station was too small and didn’t have enough room for the CFA vehicles.

The existing station on Learmonth Street is almost 60 years old, and volunteers meet and train in reused portable buildings.

“The least we can do for our hard- working firefighters and volunteers is to build clean, safe and modern facilities,” Mr Noonan said.

The $1.5 million from Labor would fund the acquisition of a larger site and construction of a new station.