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SES units in Victoria need greater financial consistency and certainty, the state’s newly appointed emergency services minister has said, explaining local governments “don’t need” to cut funds to their local rescue teams.
James Merlino, who inherited the role when former minister Jane Garett resigned from cabinet in June, was in Bendigo on Wednesday to announce $13 million in funding for equipment and station upgrades across Victoria’s volunteer-run emergency services.
Mr Merlino denied the announcement was timed to take attention away from ongoing disputes between CFA volunteers and his government.
Bendigo’s SES unit won $26,000 towards a new four-wheeled drive vehicle with which its members plan to service Huntly and surrounding areas.
The satellite service will mean volunteers can respond quicker to incidents in the city’s north by avoiding traffic around inner Bendigo.
But the unit had to put up half of that amount before the grant was even awarded, with the government program giving $2 for every $1 the volunteer service had raised.
Unit controller Fiona Beecham welcomed monetary support for the Huntly expansion but said fundraising demands on Bendigo volunteers were a concern.
“We ask a lot of our members, so to be out fundraising as well is time they can’t be with their families, and that’s important too,” she said.
The service needs almost $50,000 every year to operate.
After the City of Greater Bendigo matches the state’s annual contribution – about $14,500 – volunteers are left find the remaining 40 per cent of required funds.
Mr Merlino conceded fundraising demands were a problem, saying he had visited sites where members spend as much as 50 per cent of their volunteered time on fundraising efforts.
He said inconsistent levels of local government support were responsible for the funding shortfalls.
“Some councils might provide operational funding, others councils might provide some asset support, but its a real mix-match and what we've seen is some councils are talking about waking away entirely from the SES,” he said.
“They don't need to cut funding to the SES.”
Campaspe and Central Goldfields shires have both announced a stop to SES funding.
The Huntly satellite unit is expected to be in place by November with a search for volunteers to operate the service beginning soon, Ms Beecham said. The unit will operate out of the town’s former CFA building.
Daytime volunteers for the Bendigo base will also be sought.