By Esther Lauaki
It has been a tight squeeze at Sunbury SES headquarters for its 65 crew members over the past few years.
The ever-expanding unit will receive $200,000 towards building a new training facility after its successful bid for state funding under the Pick My Project initiative.
Sunbury SES was one of hundreds of community groups across Victoria that pitched projects as part of $30 million online community grants program where public
votes determined the funding allocations.
Sunbury controller Anthony White said members were “very excited” about the news.
“It’s a huge benefit to the community,” Mr White said.
“At the moment we meet outside or upstairs of the unit … We don’t have any whiteboards or screens to work on.
“The new facility is not only important for us but also for the other community groups that meet here including St Johns, Sunbury Festival committee and the local radio station.
“This affects a whole raft of people.”
The money will be used to buy a relocatable 160 square metre multi-purpose building to be used as a classroom for theory and information technology-based learning, a small conference and meeting room.
Computers, whiteboards and screens will also be purchased.
“Sunbury SES is the primary and secondary road crash rescue provider for the Sunbury, Bulla and Diggers Rest region, as well as managing storm, flood and other natural disaster response,” Mr White said.
“This facility will enable the unit to deliver effective training to members, meeting its operational capability requirements.”
The big winners of the Pick My Project initiative in the Macedon Ranges were Romsey Ecotherapy Park Climbing Forest and the Woodend Kindergarten Playground upgrade.
The climbing forest will receive $200,000 to install a three-metre high climbing wall with ropes, lookouts, rope bridge, climbing net and a hammock. Woodend Kindergarten playground is in for a $200,000 upgrade.
For more information, visit www.pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
