As reported by Fairfax Media on January 11, Fire and Rescue NSW plans to close Weston Fire Station once the new station at Abermain is fully-operational, and to relocate Weston’s on-call firefighters to Abermain.

The move is anticipated to take place in February.

About 30 people gathered outside the station on Monday morning to show their support for keeping the Weston station open.

Cessnock City councillor Anne Sander – a life-long Weston resident – said last week’s bushfire emergency at Loxford and Kurri Kurri highlighted the importance of the fire station to the Weston community.

“In the middle of everything that’s been happening, we can’t afford to let it go,” she said.

“We’re surrounded by bush – look at last week – and new homes are being built everywhere.

“We need to protect this station, and many others.”

Cr Sander said if the new station is meant to serve Abermain and Weston, it should have been built in a new location.

She is concerned that the traffic on Cessnock Road once the new Frame Drive bridge is opened would be a “major impost” on the fire station.

Retired firefighter Richard Gayner said he fears the relocation of the Weston brigade would result in increased response times for local incidents.

“It would be disastrous,” he said.

Another long-time Weston resident, Pat Maybury, said she hoped the community would support the campaign to keep the fire station open by signing a petition that has been circulated at local businesses.

“It’s not on – we shouldn’t have to fight all the time to keep things open,” Mrs Maybury said.

“But we’ll keep battling.”

​The petition has been circulated at local businesses in Weston, including the doctor’s surgery, newsagency and chemist, as well as The Advertiser office.

To download the petition, click here.

Petitions should be sent to Member for Cessnock, Clayton Barr, PO Box 242, Cessnock NSW 2325.

The Facebook page ‘Save Weston Fire Station 497’ has more than 1600 likes.