Government announces new fire station for Mandurah

12/5/00
The final steps towards the establishment of a new fire station in Mandurah, with 24-hour staffing by career firefighters, were announced in the State Budget this week.
Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince said the allocation of $700,000 in the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) capital works program would see the new complex completed in 2000-2001.
The Minister said the Government's contribution to the FESA Budget for the new financial year would also include a provision for the on-going cost of employing and equipping 20 Fire and Rescue Service firefighters to work in four shifts round the clock.
The total commitment in the FESA budget to Mandurah in 2000-2001 would be in excess of $2.3 million.
"As one of the fastest growing areas in this State, and with an increasingly complex combination of industrial, commercial and residential areas, Mandurah has outgrown the capacity of a fire service based on volunteer firefighters," the Minister said.
"The amount of traffic on the major arterial roads that pass through Mandurah also result in a substantial number of road rescue call-outs.

"It is to the considerable credit of the professionalism of the local Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service that they have been able to cope with the workload over the past several years.
"Mandurah has been very well served by this outstanding group of volunteer firefighters. The community owes them a great deal for the many thousands of hours of their own time that they have contributed."
The Minister said the volunteer brigade would be maintained in Mandurah to support the career firefighters - their facilities would be collocated in the new fire station.
Planning for the new fire station, to be located in Cumberland Street, Mandurah, had begun last financial year, designs were completed and land acquired. Tenders for construction have been called and would be let as soon as possible. The total cost of the new complex would not be known until the tender process was finalised.
"The State Government's continued commitment to ensure our emergency services are well equipped and ready for any disaster has been tested over the past few years," Mr Prince said.
"We have continued to improve the Fire and Emergency Services Authority in the delivery of their management and services as well as a co-ordinated approach to planning across emergency service agencies.
"This year has been challenging operationally and the year to come could provide further challenges, but the service's members and volunteers have proved themselves more than able to meet the demands placed upon them."
Media contact: Chris Morris 9220 5000