Sod turning for state-of-the-art regional fire station

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The first sod was turned for a regional fire station for the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) on Wednesday 2 November.

This marked a major milestone for the municipality.

The fire station will be built on erven 22494 and 22495 (a total of 5 877 m²) in the Tamsui industrial area in George.

Construction of the R11, 6 million fire station will start today, 15 November if weather permits.

Of the grand total, R3 million was provided by the Western Cape Department of Local Government (WCDLG) and George Municipality donated two properties, to be consolidated as one, as well as waived the development charges for the properties.

This historic event was attended by, among others, the region’s executive mayors, municipal managers, chief fire officers, various other stakeholders, as well as the 40 GRDM firefighters who will receive a lasting home where operations will be based.

Mayors and officials from over the district attended the event.

The facility will also have a specially incorporated component which will make provision for housing for a specialised wildland firefighting ground crew.

During his address, municipal manager Monde Stratu said it was the culmination of a very lengthy process, given the difficulties of engaging in supply chain processes and raising capital.

He thanked the George Municipality for giving the land for the long-awaited fire station, and for waiving the property’s service fees.

“This is a demonstration that whatever happens in cooperative governments or societies, we have a responsibility to work together.”

Stratu thanked the WCDLG for contributing R3 million to assist GRDM in erecting a regional fire station which will belong to the region.

The sod turning was a historic event attended by various role players.

Clive Africa, executive manager of GRDM Community Services under which the Fire Services resides, provided an overview of the background of the GRDM fire department which was established by volunteers in 1987.

Initially, there were 14 fire-fighters who managed the entire Garden Route District in terms of firefighting and disaster management.

Colin Deiner, WCDLG Chief Director: Disaster Management, said in 2014, only 14% of firefighters in the Western Province were trained to the required level, but just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, this number had gone up to 95%. He mentioned the possibility of putting together a Garden Route District flood task-force.

The idea would be to place an equipment cache in the Garden Route, in an attempt to train people from across the province and if a flood situation occurs in the Garden Route or another province needs assistance, help can be offered by trained people from across the province.

The regional fire station will be located in the Tamsui industrial area in George.