In its latest bid to secure a site, the CFA is appealing to owners of 30-40 hectare land plots in Ballan to sell to the state government.

The submission request says the preferred site location is south to south-east of the Ballan township, must have relatively low topography, be away from waterways and have service connections. 

The state government allocated  $46.2 million to establish a new firefighting training centre in the Central Highlands in the June budget and had said in February 2016 that it was close to securing a site.

Moorabool Shire Councillor Paul Tatchell said the submission request was an “unusual move” that concerned him and Ballan residents. 

“It is a concern. We’ve had 32 families displaced (since the closure) and it has had a dramatic effect on a small rural town,” Cr Tatchell said.

“I just don’t think the government understands the gravity of the situation. To say they have been actively seeking a site is an over statement.” 

Cr Tatchell criticised the government’s lack of investment in Ballan since the site closure and said the public purse appeared to be closed to much of regional Victoria. He urged them to make a decision quickly.

Ballan Fire Brigade firefighter and local businessman Ian Ireland called the submission request “a nail in the coffin” for the township.

“I think it’s a step to suggest they have tried to find land and have failed and will go elsewhere,” Mr Ireland said.

A spokesman for the emergency services minister James Merlino was unable to provide comment by time of publication. In November Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley had expected the site to be confirmed by the end of 2016.

 Member for Western Victoria Joshua Morris urged the government to compulsory acquire land if it was the only option to ensure the facility remained in Ballan. 

“The government should explore all possibility to secure land, including compulsory acquisition, in Ballan,” Mr Morris said.

Mr Ireland said the closure of Fiskville continued to have a severe impact of the economic viability of the town. He said Ballan firefighters had had no hot fire training in two years which had severely impacted their skill set and ability to train. 

The submission request will published in The Courier each Tuesday for four weeks.