A new CFA training centre could be built in the Ballan area after the state government announced it would support a parliamentary committee recommendation to purchase a new site in the town “as a matter of urgency”.
The government tabled its final response to the committee’s report on the CFA training facility that found chemical contamination at the site was likely to have caused cancer and other illnesses in firefighters.
One of the recommendations urges the government to purchase a new site in Ballan, which would be managed by the CFA with the Emergency Management Victoria Inspectorate managing the occupational health and safety compliance.
The government announced its support for the recommendation but would not provide details about when the site would be purchased.
The CFA ‘Memorial Wall’, which was at the Fiskville site, will be relocated to a “suitable and easily accessible location” following consultation with CFA members.
Firefighters and nearby residents exposed to chemicals at the Fiskville site could be compensated under a dedicated redress scheme.
While the state government announced it would support in principle the parliamentary committee’s recommendation, it says it will consider the “many complex issues” associated with a redress scheme, including funding arrangements.
The response document states: “The issues examined will include eligibility issues that face redress schemes; how any redress scheme would interact with other schemes and legal rights; the form, administration and duration of redress schemes; and resourcing.”
The state government said it supported in full, in principle, or in part all 31 of the inquiry’s recommendations, including:
•Making potable water standard for firefighter training;
•EPA Victoria conducting regular testing of fire fighting training facilities; and
•Health monitoring for firefighters.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino said the inspector-general of Emergency Management Victoria would report back to the government within 18 months of the implementations.
“The Fiskville inquiry has been difficult for all involved and I sincerely thank the firefighters, their families and the community for sharing their stories.”
Senior firefighter and Fiskville campaigner Mick Tisbury said the hundreds of firefighters who were “poisoned” at the site were finally getting justice.
“Since I first raised concerns about the safety of the CFA training facility at Fiskville in June, 2012, it has been a long and hard battle to get justice for the victims,” Mr Tisbury said.
