Shepparton has — for now at least, it seems — missed out on a crucial piece of firefighting equipment required to keep the region’s growing skyline safe.
A million-dollar pumper platform appliance that was destined for Shepparton has reportedly been diverted and reallocated to Sunshine in metropolitan Melbourne.
Pumper platform appliances perform general firefighting duties, and also have a long extendable arm with a platform that can be raised to enable rescues at height and water tower operations.
In 2019, when the equipment was originally purchased by the CFA before the creation of Fire Rescue Victoria, risk assessments reportedly deemed Shepparton and Warrnambool as the areas with the highest risk profile, and the two stations were given priority status.
Shepparton has numerous sites that would require the use of an aerial appliance, including many large food manufacturing facilities, cool stores and greenhouses.
Additionally, there are now nine buildings in the city over 25m in height, including three buildings over six storeys in height. Some of these buildings include Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton Law Courts, Shepparton Art Museum and Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
When the split of the CFA and the creation of Fire Rescue Victoria was proposed, concerns were reportedly raised that this would lead to resources going to Melbourne at the expense of regional cities.
There has also been a significant investment in training Shepparton-based firefighters to operate the new pumper platform, with all career staff believed to have been trained.
The closest aerial platform of similar capability is at the Bendigo station, 90 minutes away, and there is now a concern about the risk to Shepparton and surrounding areas after this life-saving equipment has been sent elsewhere.
“Shepparton firefighters have been expecting a new pumper platform for several years, and staff have been trained to use it. Now at the last minute, the Labor government is sending it to Sunshine, leaving Shepparton in the lurch,” state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said.
“The growing number of large facilities and tall buildings around Shepparton, including vital services like our hospital, means the city desperately needs to have a pumper with an aerial platform to fight fires and perform rescues at height, but the state Labor government has prioritised metropolitan Melbourne over Shepparton.
“The Labor government’s backflip is deeply disappointing, and I call on the Minister for Emergency Services to reverse the decision.”
The News reached out to the state government, but was told FRV makes all operational decisions about where equipment is allocated.
An FRV spokesperson provided the following statement.
“Fire Rescue Victoria consistently reviews its allocation of resources and equipment to ensure it maintains capability and improves service delivery to the Victorian community,” the spokesperson said.
“The potential deployment of a new pumper platform to Sunshine is consistent with our regular review of operational capability.
“In the 2024-25 Victorian budget, $15.4 million is being invested for five new pumper platform appliances fitted with the latest fleet technology for FRV.”
UPDATE: FRV later elaborated further on the situation. Read the update here: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/news/shepparton-is-well-protected-frv/