THE Country Fire Authority needs to invest almost $17 million in redevelopment and infrastructure to meet the growing demands of Ballarat for the next 20 years, a new report says.
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The fire-prone suburbs of Mt Helen and Mt Clear would be major beneficiaries, with plans to build a new fire station to service the area.
A new fire station would also be built at Alfredton, while existing fire stations at Barkly Street, Sturt Street and Buninyong will be upgraded to improve service and response times.
With the city's population tipped to boom to 130,000 by 2030, the CFA's Eureka Strategy: a fire response proposal for Ballarat, provides fire-fighting direction for the next 20 years.
The strategy will also lead to improved fire brigade response times to identified risk areas, including Mt Clear and Mt Helen, which were last year listed in the 52 high-bushfire-risk locations in Victoria.
A major part of the planned CFA services would be new facilities - at a cost of $6.3 million - in the Carngham Road/Dyson Drive area to cover the Ballarat West growth corridor.
The four proposed residential precincts in Ballarat West, which include Alfredton West, Carngham Rd West, Delacombe West and Delacombe South/Sebastopol West, will provide a total of 18,800 residential properties that would
increase the population in the area by up to 47,000.
The initial plans provide for a volunteer fire-brigade station, but would develop into an integrated station of volunteer and career officers as development of the area is implemented.
Costs of this project would include $4.5 million for a 3B-standard fire station, $600,000 to buy suitable land, $1 million for fire trucks and $200,000 for equipment.
The CFA hopes to identify and secure land in the Ballarat West by the end of this year and begin construction in 2012.
Mt Clear, Mt Helen and the University of Ballarat also need a new fire station, possibly near Greenhill Rd and Geelong Rd.
The cost of a new fire station in the Mt Clear/Mt Helen area would be $2.5 million, which includes $1.5 million for a 2A-standard fire station, $400,000 to buy suitable land, $500,000 for fire truck and $100,000 for equipment.
CFA Region 15 operations officer Bernie Fradd said implementation of the strategy would depend on how quickly Ballarat grows.
"Ballarat has grown and the CFA is at the point where it realises it needs to look at the future needs of the city,'' Mr Fradd said.
"The priority of the strategy is to cover gaps in service delivery,'' he said.
The strategy focuses on the inner-urban areas of Ballarat and will offer a guaranteed service and flexibility in the future, Mr Fradd said.
The CFA employs more than 100 full-time firefighters, administration staff and mechanics in Ballarat, and Mr Fradd believes the strategy will create more employment opportunities.
The CFA has worked with the City of Ballarat in developing of the strategy, and it complements the city council's own strategic directions outlined in the Ballarat Today Tomorrow Together document.
Regional brigades and groups were consulted about risk areas and possible future needs during the document's formulation.
The Eureka Strategy has been presented to local MPs Jaala Pulford, Geoff Howard and Catherine King and officers from the City of Ballarat.
Mr Fradd said the state government would be lobbied to help fund the project.
Ballarat Mayor Judy Verlin congratulated the CFA on the strategic plan, which she described as proactive.
"The CFA's plan is a prime example of how the council has worked with key parties in the city to ensure that Ballarat's liveability is not compromised by the projected growth predictions,'' Cr Verlin said.
"It is important that Ballarat has integrated community services, which includes identifying where the next fire station needs to be to be serve the community.
"The CFA document is innovative and is indicative of the integrated approach the City of Ballarat has to population growth."
