By Mikayla Van Loon
With a growing population in Chirnside Park, as noted in the 2021 Census data released on 28 June, concerns have been raised about the ratio of emergency services to people in the suburb.
As housing developments, subdivisions and new retirement and aged care facilities come to fruition, the demand on resources outside the Chirnside Park area is possible.
From 2016, Chirnside Park alone has grown from 9872 people to 11,779, while Mooroolbark has grown from 21,967 to 23,059 and Lilydale from 16,531 to 17,348.
Last year, Yarra Ranges Council projected a population growth of 24,577 across the Shire in 20 years.
Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park and Kilsyth were forecast to have the highest population growth with local increases ranging from 17 per cent in Kilsyth to a very high 71 per cent in Lilydale, anticipating 12,000 new residents with the Kinley Estate development.
Within the Yarra Ranges Police Service Area, Lilydale and Mooroolbark are the two closest police stations to Chirnside Park and Victoria Police noted the allocation of resources to the region.
“A significant number of additional police have been deployed to the Yarra Ranges Police Service Area, which includes Chirnside Park, since 2019,” a spokesperson said.
“This includes 17 frontline police, as well as 10 highway patrol officers, 10 family violence detectives, and 14 sexual offence and child abuse investigators.”
Announced as part of the Victorian budget, an extra 502 police and 50 protective services officers will be deployed across the state over the next two years, with the location allocations to be released later this year.
“The Staffing Allocation Model (SAM) is still used to determine the exact locations for these new resources, however, our focus will be on directing additional resources to the regions to meet increased demands and enhance community engagement through Neighbourhood Policing.”
The SAM method takes into account calls for assistance, reported crime, reportable deaths, event management and traffic incidents, as well as allocated resources to calculate where police are needed most.
The Yarra Ranges saw an overall crime reduction of “more than 22 per cent in the 12 months to March 2020” but Chirnside Park was still named in the top five suburbs for crimes committed in March 2022.
As for CFA resources, Chirnside Park was allocated its own branch in 2015 having originally been a satellite station of Lilydale.
Star Mail reported in June last year about the brigade’s doubling membership and the need for upgraded facilities to grow with the population.
Confident in their available resources, a CFA spokesperson said the growth in population was an opportunity to expand a volunteer base.
“The global pandemic has changed the way we live and work, and we are seeing a trend of people moving from the city into regional and peri-urban areas,” the spokesperson said.
“CFA has the people, equipment, and infrastructure to keep our communities safe – but we are always keen to welcome new volunteer members.
“Regional and peri-urban growth represents an opportunity for CFA to expand our membership as tree and sea-changers look to connect with their new communities.”
While an extension to the current station is in the pipeline, the build is estimated to be complete in March 2023, leaving Chirnside Park CFA in limbo with being able to recruit new members.
“The Chirnside Park CFA station will be upgraded to reflect the growing community and needs of the brigade.
“This upgrade includes a new larger meeting room and kitchen, with provision of a new brigade office and Breathing Apparatus area, including a drying room. There are also plans for a new turn-out area and the addition of new workshop and store areas.”
Nearing completion of the new Lilydale ambulance station on Charles Road, it still remains the only Ambulance Victoria depot in the area, with the closest being Healesville, Ringwood and Kilsyth.
“The global Covid-19 pandemic continues to have an unprecedented impact on demand for emergency care,” an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said.
“We are continuing to do all we can to address this, such as the fast tracking of new paramedics – including to Lilydale to further support the community.”
In the single largest paramedic intake for Victoria, 700 new paramedics were employed in 2021 to meet the current demand.
A fast-tracked funding boost of $35 million will see 120 graduate and experienced paramedics join the cohort, which will see 46 assigned to the metro area, including Lilydale.
“Ambulance Victoria continues to plan ahead to meet the future needs of our communities and respond to changes in demographics, population and resources.”
