- Construction has begun on the Cook Government's new $5.1 million Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) facility in Margaret River
- New state-of-the-art facility to assist local VFRS volunteers protect local communities
- Building scheduled for completion in June 2025
Works have commenced on building a new $5.1 million volunteer emergency services facility in Margaret River that will help to protect communities in one of Western Australia's fastest-growing areas.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the Cook Government had committed $5.1 million to fund a replacement station for the busy Margaret River Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.
The state-of-the-art facility is being built by Byte Construct, a local construction company which has extensive experience across the South West.
The new modernised VFRS station has been moved away from its current location to be adjacent to the local State Emergency Service (SES) base, which will enable an integration of services and shared training opportunities.
The new VFRS facility, which is located on Clarke Road, will enable local volunteers to have more room for their operations, safety equipment and appliances with the facility situated on around 3,200 square metres of land, more than three times the size of its current location.
The Margaret River VFRS has 27 members who have volunteered around 1,325 hours to attend 195 incidents in the past two years. This includes attending road crashes, vehicle fires, structure fires and bushfires. The brigade helped to protect communities around Donnybrook during the major blaze in the Lower South West in January last year.
The new headquarters is expected to be completed by June 2025.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Cook Government is committed to ensuring our dedicated emergency services volunteers have modern facilities and equipment in which to perform their life saving role in protecting local communities.
"This new $5.1 million headquarters will provide the Margaret River VFRS with a facility to ensure they are well prepared for the ever-evolving challenges in emergency services.
"Upgrading the facilities for our volunteers will also provide greater support for their welfare and safety before, during and after emergencies.
"It is also pleasing that the Margaret River VFRS volunteers had a say in the design of the new building, providing input on how to make the facility more user friendly to suit local needs.
"This is all about listening and responding to the needs of our volunteers and helping them to respond to the community's calls for help."
As stated by Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie:
"I am proud to be a part of the Cook Government and its commitment and understanding on the importance of delivering modern facilities and the most up-to-date equipment to support our VFRS crews.
"I welcome the new $5.1 million headquarters located in Margaret River and I know the local community will benefit from this state-of-the-art facility.
"I appreciate the Cook Government listening to both my advocacy and the advocacy of the Margaret River locals and delivering on these calls for action."
