THE Pyalong CFA has officially marked the opening of its new fire station with a plaque unveiling on Wednesday morning from Member for Northern Victoria, and state Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward in attendance.
Brigade members from District 12 attended alongside key CFA figures to mark the opening, which has seen a grand new facility on Eades Way replace the old building on Power Street.
The new building will provide more scope for training and emergency preparation, while new additions include two motor bays, an external shed, gender neutral toilets and car parking, as well as a new brigade office, multipurpose room, kitchen, chair storeroom and an additional storeroom.
Operational support areas which have also been created include a breathing apparatus maintenance room, turn-out spaces for men and women, a communications alcove and a workshop.
Pyalong CFA Secretary Georgia Storey said it was a crucial investment for the Pyalong community.
“This station is going to be a great asset for our community, and has been a long time in the making, so everyone is very happy that it’s finally here,” she said.
“The facilities are great and modern, and a huge upgrade from our old station. We’ll be able to respond better to fires and other emergencies in the area, as well as hold more community information days, training sessions and district meetings with surrounding brigades.
“It’s very important that we have a modern facility to enable us to attract team members, and we will be able to respond to a variety of incidents that do occur.”
CFA District 12 Assistant Fire Officer Stephen Keating said the investment would allow the Pyalong community to gather if needed in one spot.
“I want to point out, as much as we’ve built the fire station here, it’s a lot more important than just being a fire station in the community, these buildings become places where we conduct training, conduct education activities for the community. They can become central hubs for other community activities that don’t have a lot to do with the fire brigade,” he said.
“I’ve really come to learn how important our community connection is to having a successful brigade. What I urge everyone to consider is that in some of our smaller communities, this is the only hub-type building the community has, so they become focal points for a lot of really important activities in the community.”
Ms Symes said she hoped the new fire station would add to the town’s charm.
“When you build a facility like this, you have a welcoming community, it is a hub for people to come to and I’m sure more and more people will stick their head in the door and see what you guys are doing and hopefully add to the ranks and join the CFA family,” she said.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Scott Purdy said it was so much more than just a new facility for firefighting equipment.
“As an organisation, one of our strategic goals is to provide a great place to volunteer, and investments like this at least go some way to create the physical environment as a great place to volunteer,” he said.
“The fire station is so much more than somewhere to store equipment and fleet, it’s the home of the fire brigade, and the new home of the brigade. It will be part of the new chapter, with new stories.
“It will enable the brigade and the growing community to come together, prepare and co-operate as an effective brigade, which is really important to provide those critical services to this community, and to many people who travel up and down the highway.
“We see CFA fire stations where they have tin sheds and they act as some type of beacon to the community where the community look to in a time of need, because the volunteers are inherently connected to the community they serve.”