30 September 2013

Expanding brigade sparks station renovations

90 years on from its beginnings, the Te Aroha Fire Station’s building has been renovated and an official opening ceremony was held yesterday. The New Zealand Fire Service funded the upgrade to ensure the brigade could continue to cater to the needs of the community and to house the expanding fleet.

Incorporating the old with the new, the new building maintains the heritage of the original building while providing up to date facilities for the brigade to utilise in an emergency response.

Coromandel MP, Scott Simpson, welcomed the members and supporters of the brigade at the official opening saying it was an ‘honour and a privilege’ to be present.

“Our volunteer brigades are more often than not, first responders in an emergency situation. As a community, we ask more of them and it’s not just fires they deal with. The recent weather bomb is a prime example of this as our brigades were out there responding to a wide range of calls.”

Mr Simpson also commended the effort of the team behind the upgrade who overcame the challenges of extending a building built in 1923, to create a more functional station.

Matamata-Piako District Mayor, Hugh Vercoe, cut the ribbon on the building yesterday and praised the work of the Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade in his address.

“It’s our volunteers that keep a community like Te Aroha going and provide an excellent emergency response to a range of industries and residents,” said Mayor Vercoe. “The new facility is fantastic and will allow our brigade to continue to serve our community to an exceptional standard.”

Chief Fire Officer of the Te Aroha Volunteer Fire Brigade, Lindsay Spooner expressed his gratitude to all who were involved in the upgrade project. He also acknowledged departing Mayor Hugh Vercoe for his contribution and support of the brigade during his 15 years as Mayor.

The official opening event was well attended by the members of the New Zealand Fire Service as well as other emergency response providers such as the New Zealand Police and St Johns.

ENDS

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