THE Border building company undertaking the Albury airport terminal expansion has been given the task of constructing Wodonga’s new fire station.
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Southern Cross Developers will begin work on the $7 million CFA project on January 8 with an expected completion date of the third week in September next year.
A ceremonial sod-turning on the Thomas Mitchell Drive site was done on Monday afternoon by Wodonga station officer-in-charge Ashley Mills.
"It's a huge milestone locally and the reason why is that we've been in a facility that's not built to purpose," Mr Mills said.
"The new station is built with the future in mind and to cater to future requirements, I believe we're in the position with this to service Wodonga and district for the next 20 to 30 years."
Southern Cross project manager Brian Sawyer said at the peak 70 to 80 will work on the project.
The station will have five large vehicle bays to replace the four small bays which were built for the smaller trucks used by the CFA in 1976, when Wodonga’s existing station opened in Smythe Street.
Earthworks at the site will occur over January with the first concrete pours in February.
“It’s a greenfield site and you can get in and really push along,” Southern Cross director John Tyrrell said.
“We’re excited because it’s a landmark building, this building will stay up for 50 to 60 years or more.”
It will be the first fire station built by Southern Cross which is working on the airport expansion and the new catheter laboratory at Albury hospital.
The company’s past Wodonga projects include a mercy centre and trade block at Catholic College and renewing the old railway station and goods shed.
Mr Mills said the new station would be able to house 10 full-time firefighters at any one time, whereas four is the maximum at the current base.
He said 22 permanent firefighters and 100 volunteers would use the new station which will be located alongside North East Water’s headquarters.