The grant, allocated through this year’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program, will allow the CFA to replace its ultra-light tanker with a new medium tanker.
Captain Dan Moylan said the new vehicle would increase the brigade’s capacity to respond to emergencies and support crews on the ground.
“It means greater capability for our brigade and our community,” he said.
“More volunteers on the fireground and an extra resource when people need us most.”
The Echuca allocation forms part of a $13.26 million statewide investment in vehicles and appliances, including almost 30 new tankers, 25 field command vehicles and a range of operational equipment for CFA brigades.
“Now the grant has been awarded, it is a waiting game on the truck to be built,” Mr Moylan said.
The funding announcement comes as the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office report Managing Victoria’s Firefighting Fleet, released on Wednesday, found firefighting agencies were grappling with ageing vehicles, funding shortfalls and maintenance issues.
The report found 57.1 per cent of CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria vehicles were at least 15 years old, while over the past three state budgets fire authorities received only 12.1 per cent of the funding they said was needed to address fleet problems.
The audit also found planning failures within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action led to widespread cracking issues in fire trucks, with 54.4 per cent of its fleet grounded before the last fire season, and that no Victorian fire authority was completing all scheduled maintenance.
CFA Chief Officer Garry Cook said VESEP continued to play a critical role in helping brigades access the vehicles and equipment needed to support and protect their communities.
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