New fire station build well on track

Albany’s new $9 million fire station is on track to be completed early next year after six months of construction.

Local company Wauters Enterprises was awarded the State Government tender earlier this year to build the station which will replace the existing Albany Career Fire and Rescue Service Station on Collie Street.

The new station will feature three appliance bays, a breathing apparatus servicing area and other modern amenities, including a gymnasium, study, kitchen and a dedicated training area.

Proximity to key infrastructure and direct access to main arterial roads is also expected to increase response times.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Great Southern district officer Kevin Parsons said the new station would be the latest of upgraded headquarters in regional WA and would cater for increased growth of Albany for many years to come.

He said a February completion was on the cards.

“We had far outgrown the Collie Street station years ago,” he said.

“We are going to be moving into a building that is going to be suitable well into the future.

“It has the capacity for more staff and more appliances.

“Talking to the contractors it has been progressing well, considering the weather we have had.”

Albany’s historic fire station is set to be sold once a new, state-of-the art facility is completed next year.

The Albany Fire Station and Fire Officer’s House on Collie Street, which has been a firefighting base for more than 70 years, was added to the State Heritage Register early last year.

A decision on the future of the building, which was built in the 1930s, had not been made when the State Government allocated $9.3 million in the 2014-15 Budget for a replacement fire station, saying the original building was no longer suitable.

Mr Parsons said the plan was for the building to be sold.

“It will be put on the open market once the new premises is complete,” he said.

“It will have no use at this stage.”