The state budget, handed down last week, responded to the closure of CFA Fiskville by providing $46.2 million to establish a new firefighting training centre in the Central Highlands and upgrade the training facility at Huntly.
An additional $80.7 million will be invested over four years to decommission and remediate the site of the former Fiskville training facility and conduct environmental audits and upgrades at six other emergency management training centres located across regional Victoria.
But Ballan Fire Brigade lieutenant Ian Ireland said a new facility at Fiskville would provide the best outcome for Ballan’s economy.
“What we would like to see is that they build a new pad for training and utilise the facilities at Fiskville,” he said.
“Given all the outcomes of international expert testing and reports on the facility … which show that the levels of contamination are not high enough to be harmful to humans … wouldn’t it be more financially viable for them to use the training facilities that already exists and build a new training pad?
“Land has been offered nearby for this purpose but it’s unclear whether they will take up the offer.”
Clarification needed
Moorabool council chief executive Rob Croxford said that although the outcome for Moorabool was positive overall, further clarification was needed on what the Fiskville project would entail.
“The significant dollars allocated to Fiskville clean-up and the improvements at six other training sites across the state needs further clarification,” he said.
“We assume that this will return Fiskville to a condition that it may be used for other purposes. It is pleasing to see the re commitment to a hot fire training centre in Ballan.
“This will assist the community and local businesses to adjust to the loss of the iconic Fiskville site and start to rebuild economic activity in Ballan. The exact site and budget for the Ballan facility needs to be announced urgently.”
