Project 2016 was established in early 2011 and builds on CFA’s service delivery capacity that’s needed to match the rapid developing growth corridors of outer Melbourne and regional Victoria.
A government funded multi-year program, Project 2016 contributes to increasing CFA’s service delivery capability by creating an additional 342 CFA career firefighter and officer positions, plus the construction or modification of 10 fire stations. All these stations are either existing or planned integrated fire stations.
Program owner, Steve Warrington, said Project 2016 is a multi-step program that includes recruitment, training, deployment and infrastructure.
“At this stage the recruitment program is progressing ahead of schedule and under Phase 1 of the deployment program additional firefighters have now been appointed at Mornington, Rosebud, Patterson River, Point Cook, Melton, Traralgon, and Sunbury. Extra staff will also be deployed to Hallam, Shepparton, Rowville, Dandenong, and Pakenham,” said Steve.
Project 2016’s Review also notes that land has been bought for a new integrated fire station at Rowville, and works have been completed on the new Mildura fire station. Planning is well advanced for purchase of land in places where new fire stations will need to be built.
Progress of planning and works are also underway at Fiskville Training College, where accommodation facilities are being improved and new amenities being built to handle the increase in recruit firefighter training courses.
Steve said that while the primary goal of Project 2016 is to make sure that CFA can support volunteer firefighters meet future community demands, there is great opportunity to use the challenges faced and lessons learned in Project 2016 to the advantage of reshaping CFA in dynamic ways.
“Project 2016 has provided an opportunity to address, review and effect activities across multiple CFA business processes including strategic planning, recruitment, land and building services and training,” Steve added. “Most notably, a review in the CFA firefighter recruitment process has provided great insight into the application process and community perception of CFA and the firefighting career. It’s also generated a modified approach to our advertising campaigns, and that’s resulted in very successful recruitment application numbers.”
A summary of Project 2016 Review will soon be available on CFA Connect and Brigades on Line.
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