Fiskville was the principal Country Fire Authority (CFA) training centre for more than three decades. Located between Ballarat and Melbourne, near the town of Ballan, it was in operation from 1972 until its closure in 2015 due to health and safety concerns – including the health risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water and foam used for firefighter training.

This is the fourth progress report by the Inspector-General for Emergency Management on the implementation of Victorian Government commitments in response to the 2016 Inquiry into the CFA Training College at Fiskville (External link) conducted by the Victorian Parliament’s Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee.

The inquiry made 31 recommendations covering occupational health and safety, environmental regulation, research and monitoring of PFAS health effects, and redress for people affected by Fiskville’s contamination.

In December 2016 the Minister for Emergency Services requested that IGEM monitor and report on the work of lead departments and agencies in implementing the 33 commitments made by government in response to the inquiry’s recommendations.

This report outlines the implementation progress of the six commitments that remained in progress as of August 2020. It covers activity for the period August 2020 to July 2021 and key developments since then.

IGEM finds that of the six commitments, one is now complete and the other five remain in progress – three of which are progressing satisfactorily. IGEM will continue to monitor implementation of the five commitments that remain in progress. These are led by CFA, Emergency Management Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

The Implementation of government commitments in response to the Inquiry into the CFA Training College - Progress Report – 2021 was published on 11 February 2022.

You can access the report from the link at the bottom of this page, or view as a flipbook (External link).

Author
Inspector-General for Emergency Management
Publisher
Victorian Government
Date of Publication

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