Please note: The media statement below was published by WA Labor as a political Party, not the Government.
Premier Mark McGowan, Member for Armadale Tony Buti and WA Labor Candidate for Darling Range Hugh Jones standing in front of the Armadale Fire and Rescue Station
$38.4 million firefighting boost to keep WA safe and strong
- McGowan Labor Government commits to a new fire infrastructure and firefighter support package
- 36 additional career officers permanently deployed at Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie
- $14.5 million for a new fire station in Perth’s south east to service the rapidly growing area
- $1.2 million Kalgoorlie Fire Station expansion and renovation to support boosted firefighter capacity
- $4 million for new personal protective clothing for firefighters across WA
A re-elected McGowan Labor Government will bolster Western Australia’s firefighting capability and capacity with a $38.4 million infrastructure and support package.
WA’s firefighting service will be strengthened with 36 additional regional career firefighters who will be permanently deployed at the Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie Fire Stations – bolstering their ratios from one station officer and three firefighters to one station officer and five firefighters on duty at all times.
The package includes the build of a new fire station in Perth’s south east, which will be fitted out with new appliances and equipment to service this rapidly growing area. The final location of the station will be determined by the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner, following community consultation and based on operational needs.
Currently Perth’s south east is serviced by the Armadale Fire Station with the next closest support from Cockburn, Kensington, Maddington and Midland Fire Stations along with the Baldivis Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service and the Kalamunda Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.
The Goldfields region will further benefit from a $1.2 million expansion and renovation of the Kalgoorlie Fire Station, which will further support the increased firefighting capacity.
Additionally, if re-elected, the McGowan Government will invest $4 million to bring forward the roll out of next-generation personal protective clothing for firefighters.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
“Our firefighters do an incredible job, they serve to keep Western Australians safe.
“Our emergency services workers and volunteers put their lives on the line for their fellow Western Australians, which is why we’ve invested heavily in building key firefighting infrastructure, training and equipment to better resource and support them and to keep our communities safe.
“This commitment will be delivered if my government is re-elected, and builds on the significant investments this WA Labor Government has delivered in mitigation activities and strengthening our firefighting capabilities over the past four years.”
What the McGowan Labor Government is already delivering:
- $125 million investment for new, customised firefighting vehicles and appliances across WA
- More than $60 million to replace end-of-life and outdated emergency services radio devices
- $33.16 million to build and operate the first-of-its-kind in Australia, the WA Bushfire Centre of Excellence in Nambeelup
- Recruited and trained an additional 47 career fire and rescue officers
- $2.05 million to deliver a business case and plan for a new emergency services training academy to replace the aging Forrestfield facility
- Established the Collie Multipurpose Facility to create jobs and ensure the south west region has state of the art resources to manage large scale bushfires
- Extended the Volunteer fuel card scheme which benefits brigades, groups and units across the State, including regional WA.
- Secured a Large Aerial Tanker to be based in WA.
