Labor Delivers Fit For Purpose VICSES Aintree Unit

As part of the Jacinta Allen led Labor Government, $125 million investment in the state's emergency services was promised and delivered to Victorians this week as the state prepares for more intense heatwaves and extreme weather events.

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) last night opened a brand new purpose built facility in Aintree which will provide support and services in the event of an emergency in the local government area of Melton. The official opening saw Unit Controller Micah Spedding, VICSES staff, Kororoit MP Luba Grigorovitch, Cr Ashleigh Vandenberg, Alice Jordan-Baird and Cr John Verdon, in unveiling the plaque at the unit headquarters. The event marked one of four new VICSES units officially opened in the past week to support growth areas across greater metropolitan Melbourne.

A Place For The Community

The brand new purpose built facility has a six drive through motor bays with additional space for fleet expansion. With a modern kitchen, training room, office space and community use rooms with the ability to block sound. The new Head Quarters provides a much needed boost to the local community.

Since the unit became operational earlier this year, volunteers have attended over 170 call outs throughout Melton with a significant portion of call outs relating to building damage due to storm and fire damage. The volunteers have worked tirelessly around the clock to secure property and rescue residents.

Population growth in Melton has spurred the increase need for the SES expansion with the area marked to grow by 121% by 2050 and by at least 50% within the next 6 years. This population boom spurred by a growing birth rate, migration and Melbourne's expanding boundaries requires significant investment which the Jacinta Allen, Led Labor Government has been able to meet the growing needs of the communities safety.

Fun For The Whole Family

Beyond BAU duties of the SES, the unit holds community fund raising events and open days where families are welcome to tour the facility and encouraged to sign up as a volunteer. Community safety training days are also provided with tips on how to be safe in emergency situations.

The unit is more than just an emergency management station but an entire centre built for the success of the community. With volunteers being local community members it is home to a strong community presence where each day the local community is central to the SES operations.

The new Aintree unit has been provided with a medium rescue truck, a light rescue vehicle, a twin-cab support vehicle and a storm trailer to tackle the emergencies the SES will be required to attend. These state of the art vehicles are fitted with the latest technology that will better support volunteers in communicating and tackling some of the states most sever call outs.

The SES is a local community volunteer run service that responds to incidents like road accidents, trees down, building damage and flooding events. With the rise of extreme weather events this Labor delivered commitment is welcomed.