Weston Fire Station is once again being threatened with closure, two-and-a-half years after the community successfully fought for the station to remain open.
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Fire and Rescue NSW will hold a community meeting at Weston Civic Centre on Friday, September 20 to discuss the proposed closure of the station.
Staffing numbers, ageing facilities and the proximity to the Abermain and Kurri Kurri brigades are among the reasons Fire and Rescue NSW is planning to close the Weston station.
"Over the past few years, FRNSW has been unable to attract enough retained (on-call) firefighters for the station to remain operational," a Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson said.
"Additionally, Weston's facilities are ageing and inadequate for a modern firefighting service.
"Abermain and Kurri Kurri fire stations, which are both located approximately within a three-kilometre radius from the existing Weston fire station, will continue to meet the service delivery needs of the local community.
"Incidence response analysis over the last three financial years shows the average response times where Abermain Fire Station has responded to incidents in Weston have been marginally quicker than Weston fire crews."
The Weston station was threatened with closure in January 2017, when it was proposed that it would merge with the Abermain brigade when its new station opened that year.
In the midst of one of the worst bushfire seasons on record, the community rallied in support of the Weston station, and it was given a reprieve later that month by then-emergency services minister Troy Grant - just days after he was handed the portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr wrote to Mr Grant in June last year after being contacted by residents who were concerned the station was facing closure again, and was assured at that time that Fire and Rescue NSW had "no plans to close Weston Fire Station".
"This Government is committed to ensuring that the Weston community receives the best fire and emergency services available in time of need," Mr Grant's reply said.
"I have also been advised by FRNSW that they are constantly reviewing their service delivery to the entire community within the Cessnock electorate and that they are taking into consideration the current and future increases in population into these areas."
Mr Grant retired from parliament at the March election, and the emergency services portfolio has been handed to David Elliott.
Mr Barr said he is "really concerned about the future of the station", and has discussed the issues with Weston Fire Station with Mr Elliott, who told him recruitment was the fundamental problem.
Mr Barr said some people in the community were under the impression that a "recruitment freeze" had been imposed on the station, and community consultation was imperative to clarify the situation.
"It would be great if people turn up (to the September 20 meeting) and say 'sign me up'," Mr Barr said.
"We have to turn up on the day, support our station, counter their argument and express our insistence that we want to keep our station open."
Ward C councillor and lifelong Weston resident Anne Sander led the campaign to keep the station open in 2017, and urged the community to rally again.
"The Weston community deserves better," Cr Sander said.
"They (the NSW Government) need to guarantee that our emergency services are available when we need them.
"We'll fight for it 'til the end.... Let's fight again."
Cr Sander said anyone in the Weston community who is interested in becoming a retained firefighter should come forward now.
The community meeting will start at 12pm on September 20. All are welcome.
