Rochester will emerge from the 2022 October flood event with a $1.3 million police station, an $8 million SES/CFA emergency services hub, a $30 million hospital renovation and a soon-to-be-completed multi-million dollar ambulance station.
While the new site for the joint SES and CFA headquarters has not been disclosed, discussions between the state government, Campaspe Shire and the emergency service organisations are believed to revolve around two parcels of land on the outskirts of the town.
The SES building, which had only just undergone a renovation, was flooded in October at its Edward St location and the CFA’s Mackay St fire station has been waiting for several years on a replacement for its ageing building.
Female-friendly change rooms and showers are priority additions in the new build, along with training and operations rooms, space for current and future vehicles, administration offices and areas for volunteers to meet and unwind.
In order to house the current fire service vehicles in Mackay St, volunteers must complete a series of exact driving manoeuvres in the cramped facility.
Rochester’s SES equipment is at a similar high standard and its new home is expected to match its vehicles and emergency equipment.
A major factor in deciding the future location of the state-of-the-art CFA/SES complex, which will be built with a $26.78 million state government grant that will also fund a new Heathcote facility, is a flood-proof site.
New location for CFA: Historic records show the next move for the brigade will be its fourth, with former sites alongside the shire hall and in Dudley St (Belgravia Fire Station).
Belgravia Station: For a period of time there were two fire stations in Rochester, one at the shire hall and the other on the corner of Dudley and Queen Sts on the west side of town.
Closed for business: Rochester police have been working out of a temporary building at the rear of the Moore St police building, but work on a new development started last week.
No timeline has been put on the construction of the CFA/SES facility, but works on the hospital renovation are under way and the new ambulance station is only a matter of months from re-launching at its Mackay St location.
The multi-million dollar ambulance station project was announced by now retired State Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp in June last year.
It was delayed because of wet weather and the floods, one of 14 new or under construction stations in Victoria.
The funding announcement for the construction of a new police station, on the same site as the current building, is the latest coup for the flood-ravaged town.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister, and State Member for Northern Victoria, Jacyln Symes, confirmed a commitment had been made to a police station re-build.
Works on the site started last week with the laying of foundations for what has been described as a “temporary permanent home’’ for Rochester police.
“We promised the Rochester community we’d rebuild their police station that was badly damaged by floodwater, and we’ll provide $1.3 million for a permanent home for officers and to undertake flood-mitigation works on the site,” Ms Symes said.
Ms Symes said $15.1 million had been allocated from the budget for critical fleet investments, including more than 35 new heavy rescue trucks.
“We’ll invest $34.2 million to redevelop local emergency services facilities, including CFA stations and SES and Life Saving Victoria headquarters,” she said.
Edward St headquarters: After being flooded in October the Rochester SES unit will relocate to a new site in conjunction with the CFA, creating a state-of-the-art emergency services hub for the town.
Laying the foundations: Work has started the new police building, which will give Rochester officers a permanent base of operations for the first time since October last year.