A "slight impact" on response times will not risk community safety when the city centre's station is temporarily shifted to Bendigo East, the Country Fire Authority says.
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The CFA lodged plans for a replacement site with the City of Greater Bendigo's planning department on Monday.
The site in Bendigo East three kilometres away from the closest part of the city centre and would house firefighters until late-2021, a CFA spokesperson said.
"The existing site ... is well located to respond to incidents in and around the Bendigo CBD, but the needs of the brigade are outgrowing the 35-year-old building," they said.
While response times may change, the CFA expects to remain within its service delivery standards, the spokesperson said.
Firefighters are expected to respond to fires and other incidents in significant urban areas within eight minutes.
Golden Square fire crews would help those to be based in East Bendigo to cover the city centre, the spokesperson said.
The CFA has ruled out shifting firefighters to nearby stations.
"There is no existing station close to the Bendigo CBD which is large enough to house the vehicles, equipment and fire-fighters (both staff and volunteers) that are currently located at the Bendigo fire station," the spokesperson said.
The new station is expected to cost about $2.1 million, including buying the land in Murphy Street.
"A number of portable buildings used for the temporary station will be sold or re-used at other stations across the state," the spokesperson said.
"The CFA will also transfer furniture, equipment and other items from the temporary station to the new station once completed."
The rebuilt Bendigo city centre station will be larger to properly fit trucks and house the 100 staff and volunteers working at the site.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-2020, according to the state government.
The demolition and rebuild will be funded using the government's 450 Firefighter Program.
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Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
