General News
2 December, 2025
Over $380,000 to kit local emergency services out with new, modern vehicles
Maryborough's SES unit and Carisbrook Fire Brigade have received funding that will help them support community.
A local SES and CFA crew will get a slice of new trucks, new equipment, and upgraded facilities in the latest round of annual grants.
Carisbrook Fire Brigade and the Maryborough SES unit will each be getting a new vehicle improving volunteers’ access to modern equipment.
The announcement comes as part of the State Government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).
The grant program supports volunteer emergency services groups to purchase essential equipment or make facility improvements.
This year’s funding round delivers $30 million in grants statewide for the CFA, SES, Life Saving Victoria, Volunteer Marine Search and Rescue, and other emergency service organisations.
It includes almost $20 million for more than 40 vehicles, more than $5 million to update 15 facilities and more than $1 million for operational equipment.
Across Ripon, over $800,000 of grants was awarded to 10 recipients.
The Carisbrook Fire Brigade received $145,833 contributing to an Ultralight tanker they expect to receive next year.
It will replace their third community-funded unit, called a slip-on, which is no longer fit to fight fires safely.
Carisbrook Fire Brigade Captain Ian Boucher said the funding was a win for both brigade and community safety.
“As a small community or a small brigade we’d have no chance whatsoever of being able to raise that sort of money,” he said.
It’s another modernisation in the local fleet which Goldfields Group Officer Peter Higgins said helped volunteers protect their community.
“We’re able to put out fires a lot better with modern equipment so from the [Goldfields Group’s] perspective it’s huge,” he said.
CFA Commander of District 02 Michael Campbell has been across a third of the state in the last five years.
He said new equipment and facility upgrades not only makes for a safer fleet, but binds the community together.
“The motivation and the inspiration that comes ... really impacts small towns,” he said.
Maryborough’s SES unit has received $235,767 helping them replace their medium rescue truck (MRT).
Their current MRT has reached end of life at around 15 years old.
While it may have only done 35,000 km, unit volunteers were quick to say that was some hard driving.
The upgrade is expected to improve the unit’s ability to support the community, not only through modern equipment, but improved capacity.
Maryborough SES Unit Controller Rachel Mitchell said they currently can’t carry all the equipment they have.
That’s because they’re down a heavy rescue truck which they expect to receive in 2028.
“We don’t have all the current equipment to do both jobs fully without having our support vehicle out at a lot of them,” she said.
In the meantime, the modern MRT will help the brigade carry a quarter more equipment.
“Getting the new medium truck will help us improve our response and capabilities,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It helps us to help [the community].”
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the latest round of funding helped volunteers spend less time fundraising.
“It’s about supporting those volunteers to be able to do what they do best, which is protecting our community,” she said.
“They shouldn’t have to be busy rattling tin cans ... to fundraise for new vehicles and new equipment.”
Recipients in the Ripon electorate include:
Redbank Fire Brigade, $2,452 for an upgrade to the security camera system.
Amphitheatre Fire Brigade, $150,833 for a Big Fill Vehicle.
Burnbank Fire Brigade, $145,833 for an Ultralight tanker.
Carisbrook Fire Brigade, $145,833 for an Ultralight tanker.
Landsborough Fire Brigade, $2,800 to replace existing hot water system and fridge.
Warrenmang Fire Brigade, $2,100 for an upgrade to the security camera system.
Maryborough SES, $235,767 for a replacement medium rescue truck.
State Government have said this year’s funding round is the largest yet and is expected to double over the next four years, an additional $62 million, thanks to the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund.
A full list of this year’s VESEP grants is available at emv.vic.gov.au/vesep