Eastern Victoria Region
Ms BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:42): (1958) My constituency question is for the Minister for Water. Professionally trained volunteer CFA firefighters install and service portable fire equipment to Australian standards for business, industry and the public through the fire equipment maintenance program. For the past 16 years Erica and district fire brigade has been contracted by Melbourne Water to perform accredited safety checks on fire equipment at the Thomson Dam facility. The volunteers use these much-needed funds to buy equipment, in terms of firefighting equipment and other life-saving equipment, for their fantastic brigade. Last week Melbourne Water told volunteers that they were no longer required to do this work, because the contract was instead given to a Melbourne-based company with exemplary service, giving no reason for the cancellation. Will the minister direct Melbourne Water to reverse this decision to ensure that Erica and district fire brigade can continue to do this work and raise funds to serve the community?