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Latrobe and West Gippsland to get $404,066 grants from Victorian government Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program

The Andrews Labor government has invested $404,066 in SES and CFA units across the Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland to provide essential operational equipment and vehicles to help them respond more efficiently to emergencies.

By news@gippsland - 28th October 2022 - Back to News

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced that six units would receive funding to deliver new equipment:

• VICSES Moe Unit, who will receive $76,075 for a new Toyota Hilux to add to their current fleet of vehicles
• Traralgon CFA, who will receive $50,000 to purchase a new BA Support vehicle
• Trafalgar CFA, who will receive $20,452 for a new Field Command Vehicle
• Drouin West CFA, who will receive $3,332 in funding to purchase video conferencing equipment
• Traralgon South CFA, who will receive $2,333 in funding to install a new automated engine room door
• Nilma North CFA, who will receive $2,310 in funding to purchase new whitegoods for their unit office

These six units are part of the 250 grant recipients sharing in $14 million in funding under the Victorian government's 2021-22 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).

Under Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP), the Victorian government matches every $1 paid by volunteer groups with a $2 co-contribution

Opportunity for volunteer groups

The annual grants program gives volunteer emergency service groups the opportunity to apply for grants to purchase equipment including:

• Vehicles
• Trucks
• Tankers
• Watercraft
• Trailers

It also gives volunteers opportunities for minor improvements including refurbishments and amenities, such as kitchens and change rooms. Other operational equipment that can be funded includes chainsaws, generators, quick fill pumps and inflatable rescue boats and engines. For the full list of successful VESEP grant recipients, visit Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) page.

Delivering vital equipments

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said, "As we've already seen with the floods across Victoria, it's going to be another busy season for our emergency ser-vice volunteers - that's why we're chipping in to help them get the equipment they need to keep Victorians safe."

"These grants have been going strong since they were first set up more than twenty years ago - communities will continue to proudly contribute to local fundraising efforts, but we want to help reduce that task and demonstrate that we'll always support our selfless volunteers."

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said, "These grants will deliver vital equipment for our CFA and VICSES volunteers across West Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley, so that they can continue to carry out the vital and important work they do in our communities whenever floods, fires, or natural disasters occur."

Pictures from Victoria State Emergency Service Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com