The Country Fire Authority (CFA) is nearing the completion of a major $1.5 million statewide initiative to upgrade motor room doors, with the Newmerella Fire Station among those selected for safety and capacity improvements.
The Motor Room Door Replacement Program, which commenced in June 2025, aims to replace a total of 55 doors across the state with modern, motorised alternatives by September of this year.
To date, nearly 40 fire stations have already received the upgrades.
The program is designed to accommodate the growing needs of local brigades.
By installing higher-clearance motorised doors, the CFA is ensuring that regional stations can easily house modern, larger emergency vehicles as fleet demands evolve.
In addition to future-proofing station capacity, the initiative improves safety conditions for volunteer firefighters.
The transition to motorised doors eliminates the physical strain and injury risks associated with manually lifting and closing heavy, traditional bifold counterweight doors.
CFA Acting Head of Property and Environmental Services, Jonathan Beattie, highlighted the progress of the rollout.
“We have been able to ensure stations will match the demand of vehicles as brigades grow,” Mr Beattie said.
“We are always looking for ways to work into the future, and this project has been a great example of doing just that.”
Funded through the CFA Base Capital funding, the program allocates approximately ten project sites per region.
The very first upgrades under the scheme were completed at the Carapook, Grassdale, and Myamyn brigades.
Following the completion of the scheduled program in September, the CFA plans to align future door replacements directly with new vehicle deliveries to ensure seamless station integration.
