.png "SES Controller Judith and Rochester Captain Luke Warren")
SES Controller Judith and Rochester Captain Luke Warren
Rochester Fire Brigade and Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Rochester Unit volunteers got a first glimpse of their new co-located site this week, with the land search excitingly coming to an end for the soon to be state-of-the-art facility.
CFA District 20 Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Mick Sporton and Rochester Fire Brigade members joined Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes and Interim VICSES CEO Kate White at the new site of Moore Street, Rochester on Tuesday, 17 December to announce the land acquisition for the Rochester Emergency Services Hub.
The fit-for-purpose facility will include a motor bay room with enough space for seven vehicles and ancillary sheds for equipment. It will also feature a shared kitchen, training room, bathrooms, administration area, turnout room and breathing apparatus maintenance space.
CFA District 20 ACFO Mick Sporton said the hub will stem as a welcomed relief to both agencies and fellow community members, following the impacts from the severe floods in October 2022.
“The floods affected majority of the brigade’s membership personally and impacted the whole town. The entire community should be commended for their service, and I’m pleased to see this project progress, as it will go a long way in boosting emergency efforts in the region,” Mick said.
“The shared spaces are a great opportunity to interact between agencies, further reinforcing our existing close working relationship and shared dedication toward protecting our local area and will allow for more members to walk through the doors.
“Our volunteers work hard to protect their growing community so it’s important we’re able to provide them with adequate facilities to support their fire response. Especially as Rochester Fire Brigade head into their 150th year of service.”
VICSES Interim Chief Executive Officer Kate White said VICSES Rochester Unit volunteers have played a vital role in supporting their community, especially through the 2022 Victorian Floods which saw their own unit headquarters flood damaged.
“They are incredibly hard working, dedicated and highly trained, and once this new collocated facility is built, we look forward to being able to welcome more community members to the unit to join as volunteers and support their community during times of emergency," Kate said.
“The local volunteers have been among the state’s busiest in recent times, and it’s important they have a fit-for-purpose home to allow them to build capability along with coordinating and managing emergency response."
“The new fit-for-purpose facility will reflect our VICSES volunteers’ commitment and dedication to their local community, and enable an expansion of local services, while supporting the retention and recruitment of new volunteers.’
Rochester Fire Brigade has more than 56 members, including 34 men, 22 women, and 29 operational firefighters who average 79 callouts each year. The VICSES Rochester Unit currently has 21 members and has responded to 120 requests for assistance over the past 12 months.
Funding for the Rochester Emergency Services Hub has been provided by the Victorian Government, with construction expected to commence in late 2025.