It will be business as usual for Country Fire Authority staff and volunteers in Melton and Caroline Springs despite uncertainty about their future.
The state government this month released a plan that, if approved by Parliament, would see the CFA split in two.
The proposal would make the CFA a volunteer-only organisation, while a new agency, Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), would be established to cover career firefighters who work in Melbourne and major regional areas.
CFA volunteers serving at the state’s 35 integrated stations with career firefighters, such as Melton and Caroline Springs, would be able to stay put but would come under the supervision of the FRV.
CFA chief officer Steve Warrington said that, at this stage, the organisation would remain “largely the same”.
He assured the community that the service will continue to be provided now and into the future.
“Our focus needs to be on supporting our service people … and providing our communities with the confidence that we’ll be there,” Mr Warrington said.
“It’s a big announcement and there are a lot of questions that we all have and we need to work through that over a period of time – but the priority is that we continue to support our staff and volunteers particularly at our integrated stations.”
Western Victoria MP Simon Ramsay said breaking up the CFA was effectively handing over control to the United Firefighters Union.
“Enormous power over the management and operational responsibilities of this new service [will now be with the union],” Mr Ramsay said.
“Volunteers will slowly be marginalised and pushed out of previously integrated stations and as the union-controlled Fire Rescue Victoria extends its boundaries, with population growth, the future role of the CFA volunteer will become less clear.”
The state government has pledged a package of more than $100 million to help the CFA with training, equipment and facilities if the reforms go ahead.
The package will include a $56.2 million CFA Support Fund to strengthen volunteer recruitment, retention and training options, expand brigade support and develop leadership.
A government statement said these reforms were “expected to take a number of years” to implement.
“Volunteers will remain integral to Victoria’s response to fires and other emergencies, particularly in campaign and surge events,” the statement said.
