GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route District Municipality's (GRDM) fire services is overjoyed with the prospect of a permanent 'home of their own'. George Municipality recently donated property to the district municipality for the construction of a brand-new district fire department. 

The matter was approved at a George council meeting on 28 July.

The property in question (Erven 22494 & 22495) covers a total of 5 877m² and is situated in Pearl Street in the Tamsui Industria.

"We aim to start construction by the end of the year," said acting chief fire officer Johan Brand. "It will take about a year to complete the project, after which we will move to our new premises."

The original plan was for GRDM Fire Services to move from George to Mossel Bay, where the district municipality has land of its own. "Unfortunately, this would have been a costly exercise to relocate the personnel and their families, as well as a huge disruption of their personal lives. GRDM is extremely grateful and pleased with the opportunity to build our own fire station and especially for the fact that we can do it right here in George," said Brand.

The property (on the right) where the new regional fire station will be built covers a total of 5 877m² and is situated  in Pearl Street in the Tamsui Industria. 

According to Brand the move will most definitely be an upgrade.

"The current building being used is rented and used to be a workshop. We are about to build a proper fire station according to SA standards and regulation for fire stations," he said. "We are currently paying over R800 000 per year to rent the building and [this is] obviously increasing every year.

"GRDM has never had its own fire station and at one stage, long ago, had to operate from a makeshift base consisting of tents, until we could get a building suitable for our needs. With a lot of hard work and obviously a lot of grace from our heavenly Father, we are now at a point where we can build a proper fire station and most importantly, it will be our own."

The property where the new regional fire station will be built covers a total of 5 877m² and is situated  in Pearl Street in the Tamsui Industria.
Photos: Michelle Pienaar

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