2 days ago
New $5.6m Golden Square fire station in Bendigo useless because water pressure too low
A new multi-million-dollar fire station has sat dormant for months in Bendigo because the water pressure is not strong enough.
The opening of the new $5.6 million Country Fire Authority (CFA) Golden Square fire station has been delayed since February following the failure of the water pressure compliance test.
Golden Square CFA captain Bryan Greenwood said it was a frustrating time for the brigade.
"Everyone's done everything they were meant to do. Unfortunately, it's just gotten to this point," he said.
"Hopefully, it won't be too long."
Mr Greenwood said the water pressure in Golden Square had worsened as the population grew in the area.
He said the water pressure issue in the region had hindered their ability to fight fires in the area.
"Our fire trucks only carry a certain amount of water on them," he said.
"We need to be able to get that water out of the piping systems under the ground.
"That [water] wasn't meeting the requirements. So, if we, unfortunately, did have a fire there [in Golden Square], we would have needed to get another water source in."
Mr Greenwood said firefighters hoped to be inside the new station within the next two months.
The old station, which Mr Greenwood said crews were still operating from, is one of the oldest in Victoria.
The new station is about three times the size of the old building.
Local water authority Coliban Water said all required infrastructure had been installed at the CFA facility.
"All Coliban Water requirements for metering and sewer services have been approved and installed at the CFA site in Golden Square," a spokesperson said.
The Victorian government said it was working with the CFA and Coliban Water to address the problem.
"We're working with the CFA and Coliban Water to make sure appropriate water pressure is delivered to the site before the station opens in the next few months," a spokesperson said.
The CFA was also contacted for comment but referred requests to the state government agency in charge of the building, the Community Safety Building Authority (CSBA).
The CSBA has been contacted for comment.
