ALLANSON Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade is appealing for $20,000 sponsorship to help move a power line so it can build a new fire station.
Brigade captain Mike Sevier said the brigade had the money to replace the current fire shed with a more suitable building.
It has rustled up $225,000 for the main brick building and $67,000 for a shed at the back, mainly from the Emergency Services Capital Grants scheme, administered by the Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
“The scheme is funded by the emergency services levy that everyone pays”, Mr Sevier said.
“They will pay for trucks, equipment and buildings but the shire must supply the land and landscaping.”
Collie Shire Council has provided the new Allanson oval location.
But it would cost $40,000 to shift the power line, to allow building to start.
“Western Power have agreed to cover the other 50 per cent as part of their preferred method of running the whole line underground,” Mr Sevier said.
After moving the powerline, any leftover funds would go towards minor works to the block such as fencing, a hydrant, storm water drainage, car parking and hard surfacing.
The new fire station would provide the shire with a secondary, major incident control centre, Mr Sevier said.
The brigade was also discussing with the council the need for an Allanson town hall, which should also be built at the oval, he said.
The long-term vision was that in a major incident the new fire station would be the control centre, the oval could be full of trucks and other emergency vehicles and the town hall could be the assembly and community liaison area.
“While it’s not on the cards yet, we are trying to put all these public facilities in the one location,” he said.
In the meantime, the new fire station site would be less of a danger to children, being further away from the local primary school and shop.
The oval site meant there was less risk of children being nearby if a fire truck had to come tearing out, he said.