WODONGA firefighters say cuts to the CFA budget has got them worried with upgrades to their station now on the back burner.
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The CFA is facing a $41 million budget cut, while its city counterpart the MFB faces a $25 million cut.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said the cuts won’t impact frontline services and member for Benambra Bill Tilley said he’s confident it won’t affect response to fires.
But Wodonga and Wodonga West firefighters stood outside Mr Tilley’s office yesterday in protest against the cuts.
“We’re certainly worried and disappointed about it,” leading Wodonga firefighter Matthew Johnson said as he stood with about 15 colleagues.
“Our workload at Wodonga is increasing every year and yet our funding is going the other way so at some stage, it’s got to affect us.”
Mr Johnson, the United Firefighters Union shop steward for Wodonga, said the cuts had put off Wodonga getting a much-needed new station.
He said it had been needed for the past 10 years, with cracks in the current building, a leakying roof and not enough room for the 16 career firefighters and 50 volunteers.
He said the 1987- model fire truck at Wodonga West was outdated and its station also needs to be replaced.
“The planned infrastructure and projects ongoing, those things have been put on the back burner for now,” Mr Johnson said.
He said cuts had been made to training and volunteer numbers, helicopters were not being used and equipment was not being replaced.
Mr Tilley was hosting a visit from Victorian Minister for Racing Denis Napthine and was not there for yesterday’s protest.
He said he would speak with local firefighters next week and had already spoken with Mr Ryan’s office to ensure a report from Wodonga firefighters was passed on.
He said after a briefing in Parliament last week with CFA’s chief officer Euan Ferguson, he was confident cuts would not affect frontline services.
“He said Victoria are as prepared for a fire event than they ever have been,” he said.
He said the fire services’ budget under the Coalition was more than it ever was under Labor.
He said Wodonga needed a new fire station and the cuts would not affect the delivery of it.
