By Sonia Isaacs
BEERWAH Rural Fire Brigade volunteers say they feel “gutted and furious” after being told they must leave their long-time site and relocate to a new station they believe is smaller, less functional and imposed without genuine consultation.
Brigade 6th Officer, Gavin Rowe, said the volunteer’s were overwhelmingly opposed to moving from their current Roys Road site, where the brigade had operated for decades.
“The brigade has been here since 1990. This station was built almost entirely through community donations and labour,” Mr Rowe said.
“The brigade was just told it had to go, and as we understand it, never offered a proper lease extension.”
The current station sits on council-owned land, sub-leased to the brigade.
According to brigade members, after council moved several years ago to foreclose on the sub-lease, intervention by fire authorities saw the lease extended until 2028.
However, around 2024, it is understood the brigade was informed it would be relocated to a new combined Queensland Fire and Rescue (QFR) and Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) facility.
This site, located at Creek Crescent in the new Beerwah industrial estate, is approximately 1.6 kilometres away on the edge of the brigade’s rural response area.
Volunteers say they were repeatedly assured the new facility would be “same or better” than their existing station.
Instead, the latest site plans are described as delivering significantly less space, functionality and operational capacity.
Concerns raised include the absence of a mezzanine level for critical storage, a smaller overall site, limited parking with about eight spaces compared to roughly 20 shared spaces currently, no dedicated RFSQ training area, and no onsite staging space for multi-agency operations.
In recent years, the current station has twice served as an incident management hub during major fires that saw crews defend both Beerwah and Landsborough townships and required multi-agency responses.
Volunteers also say there are no plans for a separate storage shed for essential equipment such as trailers, compressors, generators, and lighting plants.
By contrast, the adjoining QFR station is described by volunteers as comparatively “flash”, with multi-storey facilities, extensive parking and training areas.
“The brigade was promised they would get the same or better than what they have now,” Mr Rowe said.
“Instead, we’re getting a five-bay tin shed on a tight block.
The urbans get the bells and whistles, and the brigade is being told to just be grateful for less than what it already has.”
It is understood the brigade formally rejected the proposed Queensland Fire Department (QFD) site plan in early December, advising senior management it would “accept no compromise” on key operational requirements.
Since then, Mr Rowe said there had been little engagement, until last week when members received invitations to attend an official sod-turning ceremony at the new site, reportedly scheduled for February 23.
“The brigade told QFD in December it didn’t accept the plans. QFD went quiet for two months, then suddenly invited everyone to a sod turn.
It feels like the brigade is being bullied into accepting a done deal,” Mr Rowe said.
Mr Rowe shared that the brigade’s roughly 40 volunteers remained overwhelmingly opposed to leaving their current base, and if they were required to move, then at the very least they required a facility “fit for effective operation”.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said Council was aware that QFD was progressing plans for a new Rural Fire Brigade facility within the Beerwah township.
“Council currently leases land at 175 Roys Road, Beerwah, to the State of Queensland to accommodate the Beerwah Rural Fire Brigade, and this site is part of Council’s operational depot,” the spokesperson said.
“Decisions relating to the location and operational requirements of Rural Fire Brigades are matters for QFD.”
Ben Nysschen, who has served with the BRFB for 11 years, said volunteers were also deeply concerned about being forced to relocate from premises they consider crucial to rapid and safe emergency response.
“We don’t want to leave our current shed because it’s fit for purpose,” Mr Nysschen said.
“For example, during a major forestry fire near the Bruce Highway, we were among the first responders. Our current location allowed multiple brigades to access water and parking quickly.”
He said the new site would significantly restrict response capacity.
“They have less parking spaces than we have seats and trucks. People don’t get lift clubs to respond to a fire – you get in your car and you get there as quickly as possible,” he said.
Mr Nysschen is also concerned about space constraints for large rural appliances, including the brigade’s heavy tanker.
“They’re so cramped you won’t get our big trucks in there. Even if you don’t reverse park them, they’re just too tight for a truck,” he said.
He added that the proposed station offered “basically no storage” and no suitable training space.
“We train fortnightly and on weekends. You need muscle memory in high-adrenaline situations, and people have to train regularly to stay safe,” he said.
Mr Nysschen said volunteers felt “let down” by decision-makers who he said lacked firsthand understanding of RFB brigade operations.
Beerwah Rural Fire Brigade first officer Lou Spann said he was unwilling to comment in detail but acknowledged the depth of feeling among volunteers.
“There are definitely strong feelings within the brigade and people are disappointed,” Mr Spann said.
“However, any issue the Beerwah RFB is having is currently being dealt with by our RFSQ senior management.”
QFD maintains there has been ongoing communication with the Brigade.
A QFD spokesperson said construction of the new combined facility was expected to begin this month.
“The $10 million facility will feature two purpose-built stations located side by side and provide a major boost to emergency response capability for the rapidly growing Sunshine Coast community,” the spokesperson said.
“The Rural Fire Brigade station will house five engine bays, a training room, office facilities and parking, providing volunteers with a modern base to enhance their operations.”