23/11/96
Emergency Services Minister Bob Wiese said today volunteer fire fighters in the Secret Harbour region, near Rockingham, would be provided with a new permanent fire station next year.
Mr Wiese said the Coalition Government was committed to ensuring that the Fire and Rescue Service of Western Australia addressed the needs of volunteer fire fighters to assist them provide an efficient and effective service.
Opening the new temporary fire station for volunteers, the Minister said the Fire and Rescue Service had outfitted the facility with more than $230,000 worth of equipment which included vehicles, breathing apparatus, communications and rescue gear.
The new station on Anstey Road, Secret Harbour - off Secret Harbour Boulevard - was essential to fill the growing roles of rescue, hazmat (dealing with hazardous material) and structural fire fighting in the area.
"The local community need to be commended for the role they have played in helping to create this new station because it is only through their commitment and drive that this station has been made possible," Mr Wiese said.
"After a recruitment drive of only two weeks, I am told that 17 local men and women have signed on as volunteer fire fighters, and that tremendous support highlights the community spirit that exists in this area."
Mr Wiese also praised the assistance of the City of Rockingham and local companies - Port Kennedy Resorts and Satterley Real Estate - for working with the Government to provide the Secret Harbour area with a fire service.
"Port Kennedy Resorts have fully funded a new $65,000 light tanker while Satterley's have provided the temporary premises until a new fire station is completed next year," he said.
Mr Wiese also opened a new specially built $120,000 facility for volunteer fire fighters in Rockingham which adjoins the existing station on Dixon Road.
He said the Rockingham Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Brigade had been protecting the local community for more than 28 years and were the sole fire fighting service for the area until a permanent unit was set up nearly three years ago.
"Two brigades are needed because the area is growing so rapidly - seven per cent per annum - that it ranks in the top five municipalities in Australia," he said.
"It makes perfect sense to have both the volunteer and career firefighters stationed alongside each other to enable the brigades to work and train together and therefore complement each other's roles in the case of a fire emergency."
Mr Wiese said each brigade would maintain separate amenities and servicing facilities, but would share one engine room for the fire fighting appliances.
Three years ago the Minister opened the Rockingham Fire Station which cost $680,000.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 322 2311
