Works officially underway on new Serpentine Fire Station

CFA Deputy Chief Officer (North West) Bill Johnstone AFSM joined Serpentine Fire Brigade Captain Neville Cockerell along with brigade members on-site to launch the project, which represents a significant milestone for the local brigade and wider community. 

Neville, who has served with Serpentine Fire Brigade for more than 30 years, said the new station will be a major boost for both members and the town. 

“This new station will give us the space and facilities we need to modernise and grow,” Neville said. 

“We trained seven new members last year, and having a modern, fit-for-purpose base will help us attract even more people to join. 

“It’ll also give us a place to come together socially, this will help us build an even stronger, more connected brigade.” 

The new station will be located on Treloar Street, Serpentine, and will feature two appliance bays, a new brigade office, a multipurpose training room with an integrated kitchen and separate male and female turnout areas. 

Neville said he hopes the facility can also serve as a staging area for any large-scale incidents in the region. 

“We’re a practical brigade that’s always been here to serve our community, from fires and floods to road accidents,” Neville said.  

“These facilities will help us continue doing that.” 

Bill added that the facility will provide members with a modern, functional space to train and respond from. 

“Projects such as this one demonstrate CFA’s commitment has to our regional and remote communities,” Bill said. 

Serpentine Fire Brigade currently has 46 members (43 male and 3 female), including 22 operational volunteers and 24 non-operational members. 

The brigade played a key role in the response to two major flooding events — in 2011 and again in 2022 — which significantly impacted the Loddon Valley. Members continue to respond to a wide range of incidents including grassfires, road crashes, and vehicle fires, particularly along the Loddon Valley Highway.