A community support session for people affected by the contamination and closure of Fiskville CFA training centre is scheduled for tomorrow.
The session has been organised by Moorabool council in an attempt to help the Ballan community come to terms with the closure of the training centre.
Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell said the session would give people a chance to voice their grievances and concerns to both counsellors and councillors.
“I understand country towns – when you’ve been working in the country all your life and all of a sudden you’re unemployed, I understand the difference it makes to your life,” Cr Tatchell said.
“We’re trying to make sure everything and everyone is okay.”
In January, Premier Daniel Andrews and Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett released a Monash University study that had found firefighters who worked at the Fiskville training centre had higher than expected rates of skin, testicular and brain cancer.
In March, the centre was closed permanently after new tests revealed high levels of on-site contamination.
“The critical thing is [that] council gets a clearer understanding of the effects on the Ballan community so we can pinpoint where we position help,” Cr Tatchell said. “Whether it be financial or counselling help, we’ll have a road-map of where to begin and go.” The session, at Ballan Recreation Reserve, starts at 6.30pm. Details: 5366 7100
