New Station for Leitchville CFA

Leitchville Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer fire station in the Gannawarra Shire will be replaced under the $126 million CFA capability funding as part of the Victorian Government’s Fire Services Reform. 

Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp MP today visited the Leitchville CFA fire station to meet with Captain Darren Jenkins and local volunteers to share the great news that Leitchville CFA has been allocated funding to build a Type 1B station – which will see a new purpose-built fire station built on the existing site, replacing the 60-year-old building. 

Under the replacement program, facilities in Leitchville will be modernised to provide adequate motor room space to accommodate their 3,000-litre tanker and emergency appliances, as well as safe and practical spaces for meetings and training purposes. 

The new building will include a meeting room with kitchen, office and associated brigade service delivery support areas, plus suitable amenities and changing areas for male and female volunteers and provide greater facilities for members with disabilities.

It also includes funding for a trial of respiratory equipment to protect volunteer firefighters from the harmful effects of bushfire smoke, new personal protective clothing for every active operational volunteer firefighter, as well as a range of station support measures.

It is anticipated that construction of the fire station will be completed in 2023/24.

The $126 million statewide funding package was announced under the government’s Fire Services Reform in June 2020 to provide the CFA with greater capability in critical areas, such as funding for new volunteer training programs in health and safety and leadership and 50 new dual cab appliances with burn over defensive systems.

Many of the stations to be replaced are over 40 years old and will be upgraded to ensure they can meet the demands of growing townships and emerging weather threats well into the future. 

This builds on the $100 million in additional funding the CFA has already received in the last four years to modernise its fleet and infrastructure.