NORTHERN Victoria Region MP Wendy Lovell has slammed the State Government for continually delaying the new fire station for Serpentine brigade and demanded confirmation of the start and finish date for construction.
Ms Lovell said in State Parliament on Tuesday: “Volunteers at the Serpentine CFA have been let down badly by their local member Jacinta Allan, who has shown them no respect.
“The Allan Labor Government can’t delay this project any longer – the Premier must confirm when construction of the new Serpentine CFA station will finally commence and when will it be completed.”
Ms Lovell said the 2021-22 State Budget had allocated $4.7 million for several new fire stations including a new station for Serpentine, that was expected to cost $890,000 but has now blown out to $3.2 million.
The land acquisition was finalised in 2022, and the project tender was part of the CFA procurement activity plan for 2022-2023.
In March 2024, then-Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said delays to the project had been resolved, and in February 2025 the CFA said construction was to begin that month and be completed by August 2026.
“However, it is now May 2025, work has still not begun, and it has been reported that a sod turning ceremony with the Premier scheduled for June 6 has been postponed,” Ms Lovell said.
“The constant delays are deeply frustrating for the Serpentine CFA brigade, who had lobbied for a new station for over a decade prior to the 2021 funding commitment, and desperately need modernised facilities to deliver the best firefighting capability.”
Ms Lovell called on the Premier to confirm when construction of the new station would commence and be completed.