As part of the Victorian Government’s $54 million investment in Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) facility infrastructure, construction of the new VICSES Knox Unit will soon be underway.

Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor welcomed the start of the project today which will see the unit relocate from Lewis Road, Wantirna South to 609 Burwood Highway, Knoxfield.

The new facility includes a Divisional Control Point, which coordinates major emergency response activities with other emergency services agencies.

Additional features include six drive through motor bays, two training rooms, four additional vehicle storage bays and a design incorporating environmentally sustainable design principles, such as solar panels, water tanks and rain gardens.

The new facility will ensure the unit can strengthen its response to growing communities across the outer eastern metropolitan area and continue to assist Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and fire services.

The new unit will sit within the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s local headquarters and will better equip its 47 volunteers, while helping to support the retention and recruitment of new volunteers.

The VICSES Knox Unit is consistently one of the busiest road rescue units in metropolitan Melbourne, alongside VICSES Frankston, and overall has responded to 2,870 requests for assistance between July 2015 to June 2020.

May Constructions has been awarded the building contract, and the project is due for completion by September 2021.

The Victorian Government’s $54 million investment in VICSES capital works over the past three State Budgets is ensuring the state’s emergency services volunteers are equipped with the resources needed to support Victorian communities.

These projects are delivered on behalf of the Victorian Government by the Community Safety Building Authority.

Quotes attributable to Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor

“The whole team at the Knox SES unit go above and beyond, stepping forward when we need them most. It’s only right that we back them in with the 21st century facilities, equipment and training they deserve.”

“I’m stoked to have been able to go into bat for them, to secure this new facility, and it’s fantastic to see that works are already underway. I’m looking forward to joining them on the journey to see this delivered in full.”