Lakes Entrance’s firefighting capacity is in line to receive a boost, with the Victorian Government confirming funding for upgrades to the local CFA station as part of a broader investment in emergency services infrastructure and equipment.
The 2026–27 State Budget includes $26.2 million for CFA station builds, planning, land acquisition and upgrades across Victoria, with Lakes Entrance among 10 locations identified for improvement. The funding is intended to provide volunteers with modern and safer facilities as they respond to increasingly severe fire seasons.
The announcement comes alongside a $100 million expansion of the CFA’s rolling fleet replacement program, which will deliver new tankers and pumpers across the state to strengthen frontline response capability.
For Lakes Entrance, where bushfire risk remains a constant concern across the region, the upgrades are expected to support local volunteers with improved infrastructure and equipment during high-risk periods.
The budget also allocates $22.4 million for firefighter
wellbeing, training and protective gear, recognising the physical and mental demands placed on volunteer and
career firefighters.
Beyond the CFA, forest firefighting operations will receive $217 million for new heavy tankers, dozers and graders, fleet upgrades, aerial firefighting support, and expanded fuel management and planned
burning programs aimed at reducing fire risk.
Minister for Emergency Services Vicki Ward said the investment was about ensuring firefighters had the resources they needed.
“Our volunteer and forest firefighters are on the frontline, protecting us when we need it most,” she said.
“We’ll keep delivering the equipment and facilities they need to keep Victorians safe.”
Minister for Environment Enver Erdogan said the funding would help prepare crews for future
fire seasons.
However, the funding package has drawn criticism from the Nationals, with Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Danny O’Brien questioning the scale
and structure of the fleet replacement program.
Mr O’Brien said the $100 million commitment was spread over 10 years and did not go far enough to modernise the CFA fleet, which he described as ageing.
“There are at least 630 old single cab tankers in the fleet, and more than 10 per cent of tankers are more than 30 years old – this funding will not even begin to modernise the fleet,” he said.
He also pointed to the cost of new appliances, arguing the program would replace only a limited number each year compared with what
was required.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria has previously estimated the CFA needs to replace around 100 appliances annually to prevent the fleet from ageing further.
Mr O’Brien said Labor had “cut the CFA budget for four consecutive years” and called for greater investment in volunteer services.
“Only a Nationals and Liberals Government will scrap Labor’s emergency services tax, properly fund the CFA, and respect our volunteers,” he said.
