By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
WITH space a major concern, Hampton Park CFA volunteers have to get changed in between the trucks and uniform hooks before undertaking emergency calls or training.
“We can only do theory-based learning on site,” CFA captain Troy Smith said.
Averaging 400 emergency calls a year, the Hampton Park CFA are calling for a new location to cater for the rising waiting list.
“We have 20 volunteers on the waiting list to join,” Captain Smith said.
“We haven’t turned back volunteers yet, but our membership base is growing and the current location can’t facilitate our members, we are very cramped as it is, into the future we may have to knock back volunteers,” he said.
State Labor Member for Narre Warren South Judith Graley said there was no room for growth.
“Unfortunately their facilities are extremely small and outdated, lacking change rooms, adequate training areas, secure parking and everything is located within the one space, including equipment,” she said.
The current arrangement of uniform hooks leaves new recruits’ overalls stored in the adjacent shed due to the lack of wall space in the main building.
“New recruits have to go outside to get changed and in the shed, and in reality we would like to take more than three to four recruits on twice a year, but we can’t,” Captain Smith said.
The CFA is forced to travel to industrial areas to train each week and most volunteers park on the side street and at the Robert Booth reserve across the road due to limited parking on the premises.
A volunteer of 16 years, Mr Smith said it had been spoken about since he started and had been a real concern for more than 10 years.
“We’ve outgrown this facility for a while, the Hampton Park progress association put in a push for relocation through Councillor Wayne Smith more than a year ago, no action was taken,” Captain Smith said.
The Hampton Park CFA responds to calls in Dandenong South, Lyndhurst, Lynbrook and Hampton Park and Mr Smith said a move further south would make them more centralised to their primary response areas.
“Further south is where the core of our membership base lives and is more centralised to the entire response area, but land needs to be secured as soon as possible,” he said.
“We need to act before it’s too late; land availability in the area is very scarce, and we need to get land that’s available.”
On Tuesday 14 April MP Judith Graley put in a constituency question to the Minister for Emergency Services Jane Garrett.
“I have asked the minister to visit to not only meet with these wonderful volunteers but to also see the many challenges they face as they strive to protect our community during its most difficult times,” she said.
“However, I have been advised that the CFA does not have any immediate plans or funding allocated to replace or upgrade the Hampton Park fire station.”
The team at the Hampton Park CFA are urging for immediate action in the coming 2015/2016 State Budget.
“A lot of people have talked about moving us and upgrading us, but no-one’s made the monetary commitment,” Captain Smith said.
