The Allan Labor Government is ensuring Victoria's hard-working emergency services volunteers continue to have the equipment they need to do their life saving work.
Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes today visited Drouin Fire Brigade to announce the recipients of this year's $15 million Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants.
The annual grants program supports emergency services volunteer groups to purchase essential operational equipment like vehicles, appliances and undertake minor facility improvements.
With the ongoing threat of bushfires for regional Victoria, CFA will receive more than $11 million to fund 179 initiatives. This includes the Drouin Fire Brigade who will receive $71,000 for a new Field Command Vehicle.
CFA Bulart, Corinella, Echuca Village, Ellerslie, Greendale and Kingston brigades will all receive more than $280,000 for new light tankers, while 15 brigades will receive more than $140,000 each for new Ultra-Light tankers.
VICSES volunteers who have been working tirelessly this year responding to thousands of incidents following damaging storm and flood events will be supported with more than $2.5 million.
Port Phillip, Warracknabeal, Goroke, Sunbury, Lismore, Gisborne and Terang VICSES units will get more than $100,000 to replace utility vehicles, while Knox and Pakenham will receive $150,000 for Medium Rescue Trucks.
Life Saving Victoria clubs will receive almost $880,000 to give clubs at popular beach destinations what they need to respond during the busy summer period.
This will include more than $30,000 each for Inverloch, Lorne, Ocean Grove, Seaspray, South Melbourne and Venus Bay, more than $40,000 for Torquay and more than $80,000 for Woolamai Beach club to purchase vehicles and trailers and for equipment and facility upgrades.
Victoria's Marine Search and Rescue will receive just under $370,000 to keep our waters safe. Werribee Coast Guard will receive more than $98,000 and Port Albert Coast Guard more than $84,000 for new trucks to assist carrying out their work, while Paynesville Coast Guard will receive $60,000 for equipment upgrades.
Since 2015, the Labor Government has provided $138 million in VESEP grants to deliver more resources, equipment and better facilities for volunteer groups so that are ready to respond when Victorians need them.
As stated by Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes
"We know this funding will a vital boost for our selfless volunteers who are always there for Victorians when they need them."
"Volunteers look forward to the VESEP grants every year - we're proud to support the vital fundraising work they do with this program."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
"It's so important that our brigades have the stations, vehicles and equipment that they need, and this new vehicle for Drouin will make a real difference to the work that our volunteers do every day to make and keep people safe."
