From the Minister for Police & Emergency Services
Victoria's volunteer emergency services will see double again over the next year - double the Brumby Labor Government funding for emergency equipment through the hugely popular Community Safety Emergency Support Program grants.
Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said the Brumby Labor Government had doubled the program this year to $6.8 million (up from $3.3 million) and due to its popularity will double it again to a massive $13.6 million next year.
"Emergency Services volunteers across Victoria have spoken loud and clear about how much they love Labor's program and the Brumby Government has listened and responded with this huge boost to support our emergency service volunteers," Mr Cameron said.
"It's clear that these grants are working to support our volunteer emergency services to provide local supplementary equipment to the benefit of local communities.
"Applications will open in late December and it is important volunteers start thinking about them."
Mr Cameron announced the massive grant boost during a visit to Lockwood CFA, which received a CSESP grant earlier in the year to help purchase a new $188,000 Light Tanker.
"Lockwood CFA is a great example of the CSESP in action, and underpins the strength of this partnership between communities, volunteers, emergency services agencies and the Brumby Labor Government," he said.
Since 2001, more than $30 million in grants have been delivered through the CSESP, directly assisting Victoria's emergency services volunteers to purchase almost $65 million in emergency equipment for their local communities.
Mr Cameron said around 900 CFA brigades, SES units, lifesaving clubs and other local volunteer emergency groups have benefited from this program.
"The Brumby Labor Government values the important work Victoria's emergency services do throughout the year and is committed to ensuring they have the necessary resources to carry out this important work," he said.
"The Government's CSESP grants programme provides funding over and above the record resourcing of essential equipment to our wonderful emergency services agencies."
Under the 2010 CSESP program:
- CFA brigades received $5.2 million to help purchase light and medium tankers, field command vehicles and a range of safety equipment;
- VICSES units received more than $1 million in grants for the purchase of trucks and vehicles, storm and lighting trailers and to upgrade unit facilities;
- Lifesaving Victoria clubs received $403,000 in grants for the purchase of rescue equipment including rescue boats, All Terrain Vehicles and to upgrade clubhouses, and;
- Volunteer Coastguard received almost $177,000 in grants for the purchase of safety and rescue equipment and to upgrade local flotillas.
