Dam concerns addressed by Melbourne Water

Melbourne Water has contacted the Erica and District Fire Brigade to resolve concerns relating to a contract for bi-annual inspections and maintenance at the Thomson Dam.

The volunteer brigade members said they were recently informed they were no longer required to do the contracted safety inspections and maintenance of fire equipment and infrastructure at the dam.

However, last week Melbourne Water general manager of infrastructure operations David Norman said Melbourne Water had contacted the Erica brigade to discuss future works.

“Melbourne Water has recently entered a contract with a new service provider for maintenance and minor capital works across the organisation. This has been a significant transition and has involved our new service provider engaging various vendors.

“Thomson Dam fire equipment maintenance is a crucial part of our operations that provide world class drinking water to Melburnians.

“Our service provider is working to ensure local support via the CFA is maintained and have contacted the Erica and District Fire Brigade to discuss the works moving forward. Both parties now look forward to working together.”

Mr Norman said Melbourne Water “appreciate and respect” the support of the and local volunteer groups that help protect Victorian communities from bushfires.

Brigade captain Russell Wright said the brigade had earned about $15,000 from the Melbourne Water contract since 2006, which he said had gone towards buying life-saving equipment including breathing apparatus, a defibrillator, a forced door entry opening tool, a fire tanker based at Walhalla and a forward command vehicle based at Rawson as well as first aid training for brigade members.

Mr Wright and Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath called on Water Minister Harriet Shing to reverse the decision that came as a surprise to the brigade’s 25 volunteer firefighters.

He said funds from contracts to maintain and inspect fire fighting equipment for government agencies and private organisations were particularly vital for a volunteer brigade in a high fire risk area that does not have the populations to draw on for necessary fundraising.