• Dandenong Star

24th September 2009 11:00:22 AM

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SPRINGVALE and Dandenong firefighters joined more than 1000 of their colleagues to rally for “more fighters, not less”.

While the CFA criticised last Tuesday’s rally for more firefighters, it has applied to the State Government for an extra 684 professional firefighters as Victoria enters what is expected to be the worst fire season on record.

Members from fire stations inBallarat, Dandenong, Eltham, Geelong West, Hastings, Hoppers Crossing, Lara, Lorne, Melton, Mildura, Mooroopna, Mornington, NarreWarren, Ocean Grove, Pakenham, Phillip Island, Portland, Rowville, Sale, South Morang, Springvale, Sunbury, Warragul and Warrandyte joined the rally.

They service 34 of Victoria’s 52 “hot spots” identified on 18 August by Premier John Brumby.

Funding for the new CFA positions is unlikely before the next state budget.

United Fire Fighters national secretary Peter Marshall said the extra CFA members were needed now, not after the next budget, but he agreed it would take some time to phase in an extra 684 staff.

“Currently the CFA’s training program at Fiskville is a 16-week course, servicing up to 125 recruits a year – the proposed new recruits would take six years to come on line,” he said.

He proposed a modified eight-week training program, followed by a further eight weeks on the job, to speed up resourcing.

“This would fast-track the deployment of more CFA firefighters to outer suburbs, Melbourne’s growth corridors and regional centres where population growth means they have second-class fire protection compared with other parts of the state,” he said.

“Fire protection is a community right, not a privilege. We all pay the fire levy on our house insurance and for rural areas worst hit last February insurance premiums are set to soar.”

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