THE fallout from the state government’s decision to close the Fiskville CFA training facility continued on Friday as Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett fronted the community for the first time since the announcement.
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The meeting, which went for more than an hour, saw the minister come under heavy fire from about 80 CFA members, Fiskville staff and Ballan residents who were confused and upset by the decision.
Lieutenant of the Ballan CFA brigade Ian Ireland said it was obvious there was a lot of frustration in the room and the Fiskville staff were left no better off by the visit.
“The vibes coming from the government were always negative; they were never positive about Fiskville,” he said.
Mr Ireland said he believed the government had always intended to shut Fiskville.
Both Ms Garrett and Emergency Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley indicated a new facility would be built in the area, but did not reveal what it would include.
Staff were adamant that any new facility should be similar to the old one, which not only houses the trainees but provides a variety of hospitality jobs to local
residents.
“You have to look at them and say, ‘What are they going to do now? Where is their income going to come from?’” Mr Ireland said.
“The government has said they will find them a job. Well, where? In Ballan? I don’t think so.
“The largest employers we had in Ballan were the hospital and Fiskville, and we just lost one of them.”
The CFA board unanimously recommended the closure of the facility after the results of about 550 tests at the notorious site.
The results showed that while the drinking water and showers were clear of contamination, high levels of toxic chemicals were found around the fire training area and a new zone at the site where chemicals had not been previously detected.
A significant amount of funding has already been spent at the site in an attempt to make it safe.
“Everyone believed that the site had been rehabilitated, and we were going through the parliamentary inquiry this year. What we have uncovered is what we thought to be safe, simply isn’t safe,” Ms Garrett said.
She said something would need to be done as soon as possible concerning both the old and new sites.
“I understand people’s emotions are running extremely high, as they should be,” Ms Garrett said.
“This is a massive issue and one that has been dragged out for a very long time. There has been a lot of uncertainty and confusion about it and that came across strongly at the meeting.”
matthew.dixon@fairfaxmedia.com.au
