“Hopefully it doesn’t take a massive event for them to see they’ve left us behind.”
That’s the warning from Aireys Inlet firefighters after hopes for long-awaited funding for a new fire station were again dashed in the latest Victorian State Budget.
After 12 years of waiting, local firefighters and the community are still calling for the investment needed to keep volunteers and residents safe in one of Victoria’s highest bushfire risk areas. Despite land being secured years ago, crews continue operating from an ageing station no longer fit for purpose.
At the same time, the Allan Government is collecting billions through the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), which replaced the former fire services levy in 2025.
Victoria cannot afford to leave fire preparedness behind. Communities deserve to know: if billions are being raised in emergency services taxes, where is the money going?
