The latest round of Victoria Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) funding has been dubbed a big moment for the Wangaratta CFA group as they look to expand on their firefighting capacity.

Brigades across the rural city were recipients of $443,135 of total funding, which is set to lead towards a bigger station and a new tanker.

South Wangaratta CFA applied for a $250,000 grant for a major expansion to their Shanley Street facilities’ toilets, changerooms, installing a cleaning room, and another vehicle bay to hold the capacity to apply for another tanker.

They received $225,000 in VESEP funding, and Wangaratta CFA group officer Lachie Gales said the now funded expansion will go a long way to increasing the group’s ability to better serve the community if fire response.

“South Wangaratta is one of our busiest and most engaged brigades and they’re suffering from a lack of space, so this is a really exciting development,” he said.

“It’s a big moment for South Wang, but it’s a big moment for the Wangaratta group because it’ll lead us down a path where we can increase our capacity locally.

“For the Victorian government to find $225,000 will take it to the next level, which is really necessary.”

VESEP is an annual grants program that helps Victorian emergency services volunteer groups purchase essential equipment or make facility improvements so they can strengthen and support their vital work.

Volunteer groups can apply for grants of up to $250,000 – an increase of $100,000 from the previous maximum – with the government contributing $2 for every $1 raised by the local volunteer group.

Another major grant recipient was the Eldorado CFA brigade who will get $145,833 for a new ultralight tanker to replace their currently aged vehicle.

“It’s a really important vehicle, everyone knows the national park area around Eldorado needs small light vehicles that respond quickly and effectively,” Mr Gales said.

“It’s great that’s going to be upgraded into the latest version.”

Mr Gales said the new tanker will compliment a recent upgrade at the Eldorado brigade funded by a VESEP grant last year, where they fitted an electric pump to their water supply for fast filling tankers.

“It was after an incident where a house burned down and the lack of water out there was a real issue, so they upgraded with an electric pump to be able to fill tankers very quickly,” he said.

“In the event of a house fire, the town is much more protected than it was.”

Other rural city brigades to receive funding include the District 23 District Planning Committee ($59,100), Milawa ($4022), Peechelba ($4500) and Everton ($2340)

Mr Gales said funding as small as Everton’s grant, which will go towards a new thermal imaging, is just as valuable as projects with bigger funding.

“The grant applications are a lot of work and to be successful they have to build a great case so it’s a credit to those brigades,” he said.

This year’s VESEP funding round delivered more than $30 million in grants – the largest ever – across the CFA, VICSES, Life Saving Victoria, Volunteer Marine Search and Rescue, and other emergency service organisations.

“This investment will make a real difference here in northern Victoria– delivering upgraded facilities, modern equipment and new vehicles so our volunteers can respond quickly and effectively during emergencies,” Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, said.

VESEP funding will double over the next four years due to the implementation of the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.

Mr Gales said the increase was a “sweetener” to a largely disputed levy, but it was vital for local CFA brigades to have the opportunity to apply for necessary equipment and amenities to perform their life-saving duties.

“The recent injection of funds from the state government is showing up very directly with more successful applications,” he said.

“These brigades are able to present business cases that say we need this equipment and those applications have been successful because we need this equipment.

“If we want to have the most successful and largest volunteer firefighting service in Australia and the worlds, we need to fund it.”