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Redeveloped Southport Fire Station officially opens |
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| Posted by editor (editor) on Mar 19 2010 |
| 2010 >> |
A multimillion dollar redevelopment of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) Southport station was officially unveiled today. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson and Member for Southport Peter Lawlor said the project would benefit the community and as well as the 71 staff who operate out of the station. “Like many areas throughout Queensland, Southport and surrounding suburbs have experienced strong growth in population, housing and business in recent years,” Mr Roberts said. “That is why we have invested $5.3 million in the redevelopment of this station, to accommodate recent growth and plan for the future,” he said. “The redeveloped station houses an Area Command Office, Community Safety Office, Regional Fire Communication Centre, Regional Workshops and the regional Breathing Apparatus and Hazardous Materials Centre. “The Bligh Government is committed to providing top quality facilities for our emergency services personnel, and the completion of this redevelopment is a concrete example of our commitment. “This redevelopment has been comprehensive and will benefit operational and support staff, as well as the community, now and into the future.” Mr Lawlor said the Southport station had a long history of mentoring and developing quality firefighters and support staff. “For more than 30 years, Southport firefighters have dutifully served our local community, with many a Senior Officer, Area Director and even the Commissioner cutting their operational teeth here,” Mr Lawlor said. “I’m proud to say Southport has been a supportive environment to foster such development and train some of the state’s top firefighters,” he said. “Last financial year alone, Southport station responded to 1,850 incidents from Labrador to Northern Surfers Paradise and Nerang to Mount Nathan. “The Bligh Government will continue to support our firefighters, to ensure they have the resources and tools needed to keep Queensland communities safe.” QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson said the redevelopment had been eagerly awaited by crews in the station and has already been positively received. “The crews here have spoken very highly of the redevelopment, they’ve said the new training room and special maintenance centre for breathing apparatus and hazardous materials has helped streamline operations,” Commissioner Johnson said. “The redevelopment of the station boasts a new gym, modern office space and turn out room, and as any operational firefighter will tell you, new facilities contribute greatly to shift morale—which is something we are delighted about.” Having been a firefighter at the Southport station himself in the mid eighties, Commissioner Johnson praised the stations personnel for their ongoing commitment to staff development. “I’ve had a lot of history with this station and today just builds on that, I’m incredibly proud of all of the staff here at Southport– recently we’ve had a number of recruits train at the station and there had been a great deal of knowledge sharing and camaraderie from that, it’s been great for the elder statesmen as well as the young recruits,” he said. Mr Roberts said the Bligh Government had allocated a record $433 million QFRS budget this financial year – an 8.8 per cent increase on the previous year. “Southport Fire and Rescue Station received 16 new recruits and one replacement appliance in the past two financial years,” he said. “The Southport redevelopment is a concrete example of this Government’s commitment to ensuring emergency services keep up with growing demand.”Last changed: Mar 19 2010 at 11:25 AM
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