Liberals demand action for Ballan

The Courier previously reported the government was no closer to securing the land for the new complex following the closure of the old controversial facility at Fiskville.  

This is despite $300,000 being included in last year’s state budget for the project. 

During a visit to the region on Monday, opposition emergency services spokesperson Brad Battin said the  the delays were impacting on the economy in Ballan. 

 “The community is sick of inaction, they want to see the government act on this to protect employment and protect local businesses,” he said.  

“Their inaction is costing the local economy and (...) $300,000 in the budget is not enough. They (the government) needs to start telling the community how they are going to fund something as good, if not better, than Fiskville for this area.

“If this government was serious and they wanted to buy land tomorrow, they could make that money available tomorrow.”

During a visit to the region last week, Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett said the government had been very close to securing land recently. 

“We have had a couple of ‘almost theres’ on land, we are just going to keep pushing until we get it,” she said. 

However, Mr Battin said if money was an issue, the government should provide more. 

“They have the $300,000 sitting there and, if they needed more, Daniel Andrews could opt to get more and put it aside. They decided to close Fiskville, they need to explain to the community what they are going to do replace that in Ballan,” he said. 

“It is super important, we have been up here a few times and we have spoken to some of the tradies who have lost work from there and it is the same tradies who shop locally and they now have a reduced spend in the local area. “If they are not working in the local area, they are going to spend money in other areas they are going to for employment or even worse relocating and that would be the worst result for Ballan.