A modern new fire station for St Leonards is a step closer after the first sod to mark the beginning of its construction was turned this week.
The new facility will feature three engine bays, a meeting room, gender neutral changerooms and will be environmentally friendly with solar power and battery back-up.
The station will be larger in size and more modern which will better accommodate the brigade’s needs well into the future.
Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville joined CFA GM Infrastructure Services Anthony Ramsay and Commander Nick Callan to observe the start of works at the Murradoc Road location.
St Leonards Fire Brigade has 19 volunteer members who respond to an average of 37 emergency call outs per year.
St Leonards-Indented Head captain Niki Habibis said the new station will be a great asset for not only the brigade, but for the community as well.
“It’s exciting to kick off the building process,” she said.
“Being located on a main road will provide more visibility for the brigade and the new facilities will help us better serve our growing community.”
CFA Deputy Chief Officer South West Rohan Luke said the new building will replace a 38-year-old fire station which lacks the motor room space required by the brigade.
“The new station will include improved amenities for all volunteers and provide greater access for members with disabilities, and include more areas for meetings, training and other firefighting needs,” he said.
“Our volunteers work hard to protect their growing community so it’s important we are able to provide them with adequate facilities to support their fire response.”
The St Leonards-Indented Head Fire Station will be the first CFA station build project to be delivered by the Community Safety Building Authority (CSBA), within Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) on behalf of CFA.