Emergency services volunteer groups in Yuroke will share in $12.5 million to purchase much-needed equipment as part of the 2015-16 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP).

Ros Spence, State Member for Yuroke, said the VESEP grants would fund operational equipment, such as trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers and minor facility improvements for volunteer groups.

Recipients included $34,533 for the Hume CFA Fire Bridge Group to help purchase a Field Command Vehicle and $99,147 for the Craigieburn SES unit to purchase an additional vehicle to allow for multiple responses to local incidents.

Under the program, the Andrews Labor Government contributed $2 for every $1 contributed by local volunteer groups from organisations including the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association (AVCGA), Country Fire Authority (CFA), Life Saving Victoria (LSV), Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), and other eligible volunteer emergency services groups.

The 2015-16 VESEP program offered grants of up to $100,000. State-wide, the allocation means that:

• 43 VICSES units will share more than $2 million to purchase a range of operational equipment including storm trailers, rescue trucks and rescue equipment
• 29 grants worth more than $665,000 will be provided to LSV clubs to support patrols with new water crafts and infrastructure upgrades
• 202 grants totaling more than $7.1 million will be provided to CFA brigades for equipment ranging from tankers and command vehicles to amenities upgrades
• AVCGA flotillas will receive 11 grants totaling more than $213,000 for vessel tracking equipment, radio upgrades and other essential amenities upgrades
• Other recipients such as Bush Search and Rescue Victoria, Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad, St John Ambulance Australia and the Torquay Marine Rescue Service will receive grants to purchase or upgrade equipment

In addition to individual grants, volunteers will also benefit from state-wide initiatives such as $1.9 million to CFA to replace equipment, provide specialist clothing and thermal imaging cameras across Victoria and more than $51,000 to LSV to purchase helmets to improve member safety on inflatable rescue boats.