The new fire station for Winnindoo Fire Brigade is officially under construction, with the local community set to receive a boost to their emergency service capability by the end of the year.
The southeastern Victorian rural community is home to 333 people, and the brigade, first registered in 1946, holds a membership of 65 volunteers, with 19 operational firefighters who average 27 callouts a year.
The new station is being developed at 1151 Rosedale-Heyfield Road in Winnindoo and will replace the existing station on the same road.
Key amenities will include a reverse in motor room - bay, to house their Heavy Tanker, and include storage space, a car park, operational areas and a multipurpose room. There will be turnout areas for both men and women, with accessible unisex bathrooms.
Winnindoo Fire Brigade Captain Ton Van Dijk said brigade members are eager to utilise their new purpose-built space.
“Being in a rural setting in a small town, the new fire station is going to make a real difference to not only our brigade but the broader community,” Ton said.
“Our current station is just one shed, with one engine bay and kitchenette, so it will be fantastic to have dedicated spaces that will make things more functional and easier to meet as a group.
“Being right at the edge of the bush not far from the foothills, we do at times find it hard to recruit new members, so I am hopeful that our new modern facilities will allow for greater training and recruiting opportunities.”
Ton said he doesn’t see the new fire station existing just for Winnindoo, instead he sees it as an asset for the broader community to use.
“We work closely with our neighbouring brigades, and we often turn out for each when the pager goes off,” Ton said.
“We are very grateful to be receiving a new fire station. It leaves the door open for our group or district to invest in a new vehicle and have it stationed here as a resource for everyone to use when needed.”
Winnindoo members have attended numerous significant incidents over the years, including the 2019-20 bushfires, 2009 bushfires and the Hazelwood mine fire in 2014.
CFA District 10 Assistant Chief Fire Officer Kade Dowie said the new design reflects CFA’s dedication to volunteer safety, inclusivity and sustainability.
“The new station will not only enhance the brigade’s response capabilities further, but also the broader community and southeast region,” Kade said.
“Projects such as this one demonstrate CFA’s commitment to our regional communities.
“It’s great to see environmentally sustainable design features have also been incorporated, such as solar panels, an EV charging station, rainwater recycling, and water sensitive landscaping.”
Construction is expected to be completed by late 2026.