CONSTRUCTION of Kingston’s new fire station has been held up by a large number of community objections.
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The town, a communications hub for the region during fires, was promised a new shed under the CFA’s rural fire station program.
But now the CFA has asked the Hepburn Shire Council to place its planning application on hold to negotiate “a solution” with the community and landowners.
Although the CFA applied for a planning permit at Kingston’s Main Road, it hasn’t purchased the land yet.
Grampians regional director Don Kelly said the CFA selected a site after assessing how best to serve the community.
But a number of people had objected to the location, he said.
Mr Kelly said the CFA wanted to give Kingston brigade a new truck but couldn’t until a shed big enough to house it was completed.
“It could be going up now but it’s held up for quite some time,” he said.
It comes after a group of residents signed a petition saying they should have been consulted in the decision-making for the site.
The 20-signature petition calls on the council to reject the application as the location would be “inappropriate” within the Avenue of Honour of Kingston.
The car parking was not adequate, trucks entering the 80 kilometre zone road would cause a traffic hazard and the facility’s 24 metre communications tower would have a looming presence, the petition said.
It comes after Hepburn Springs’ new fire station was nearly derailed due to its location.
rachel.afflick@fairfaxmedia.com.au