Funding boost for local emergency services

Four local emergency service organisations in the Bass electorate have received $226,696 in funding to support their ongoing service to the local community as part of the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants.

VESEP is an annual grants program that helps Victorian emergency services volunteer groups purchase essential operational equipment, vehicles and appliances a s well as undertake minor facility improvements.

Local MP, Jordan Crugnale congratulated the SES Units of Phillip Island and Wonthaggi as well as Inverloch SLSC and Cape Paterson SLSC and acknowledged their respective financial contributions.

“This is such great news as now our local SES can upgrade their vehicles and our Surf Lifesaving Clubs can purchase equipment needed for rescues like boards, outboard motors, defibrillators and lifejackets.

“THE VESEP program is so important as it provides volunteers with the equipment and facilities they need to continue their selfless work and we’re grateful for all that they do to protect our community,” Ms Crugnale said.

“Our emergency service volunteers work incredibly hard to keep our communities supported, informed and safe.

“We are in for a big season and I want to thank them for being out and about in our community holding information sessions, having open days, visiting schools, having a presence at markets – all to get the message out about water safety, reminding us to do our fire preparedness plan and taking a little more care on our roads.”

Phillip Island SES and Wonthaggi SES received $87,426.61 and $83,641.70 respectively to upgrade their support vehicles to a Toyota Hilux.

Cape Paterson Surf Lifesaving Club received $24,290 for foam and fibreglass rescue boards, defibrillator and AED trainers, while Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club received $30,338 to purchase a Polaris Ranger, outboard motors, rescue boards, lifejackets, AED Trainers, radios and First Aid Kits.

Waratah Beach Surf Life Saving Club and Kongwak and District CFA also received funding.

Through this round of grants, CFA brigades have received more than $10.8 million, Victoria State Emergency Service units received more than $2.4 million, Life Saving Victoria’s surf lifesaving clubs received more than $850,000 and Marine Search and Rescue crews received more than $350,000.

Phillip Island SES, Wonthaggi SES, Inverloch SLSC and Cape Paterson SLSC are four of 233 applicants to receive a grant as part of the 2023 24 program.

For more information or to view the full list of grant recipients, visit emv.vic.gov.au/vesep