Emergency Services Minister Attends Wallsend Fire Station Opening Amid Sonia Hornery Concerns

BY MADELAINE MCNEIL

Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant attended the official opening of Wallsend's new fire station this morning, but Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery remains disappointed with his decision to sell the original building.

Grant was joined at the new Summerhill Road premises by Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald and representatives from Fire and Rescue NSW, but Sonia Hornery was not invited despite her strong advocacy for the new facilities.

Ms Hornery accused Mr Grant of "playing politics" with emergency services after he failed to respond to her requests to leave the original fire station in public hands.

Sonia Hornery had asked the Minister to keep the original Devon Street premises public in order to provide a space for use by community groups such as Blue Gum Hills Men's Shed, but the property was listed for sale earlier this week.

Troy Grant responded to Ms Hornery's accusations, telling 2NURFM News that he wasn't aware Ms Hornery wasn't invited to today's event until this morning.

"It was certainly not political," said Mr Grant.

"I know how immensely proud she is and it's all credit to her that the (new) fire station is now up and running."

The new Wallsend Fire Station. Picture: Facebook.

Push To Save Wallsend Fire Station

BY IAN CROUCH

Wallsend Mp, Sonia Hornery is calling for the former Wallsend Fire Station to be given to the local Men's shed so it can be restored and re-purposed as a hub for the group.

Firefighters moved out of the 1921 building on the corner of Devon and Nelson Streets into brand new facilities on Summerhill Road last month.

The building is earmarked to be sold off and demolished because it contains asbestos and has a leaky roof.

Some residents want the building converted into a police station for the suburb, but Sonia Hornery says any new police station should be a modern state-of-the art facility.

She's written to Emergency Services Minister, Troy Grant asking him to consider allowing the Blue Gum Hills Men's Shed to move into the building and save it from demolition.

"I welcome community input, we should be asking the community what would be the best use of the sight, it's certainly in a beautiful, ample, prime place.

"One of the reasons the fire station was closed was that it wasn't suitable to be a fire station in the 21st century and unfortunately nor would it be suitable for a police station.

"It is an old dwelling, it requires a lot of work and a lot of love and it's a beautiful building which we want to see remain but used by the appropriate people.

"It's a matter of the state government ensuring the sight is available in community hands, selling off the station is not an option."

The Former Wallsend Fire Station Picture: therherald.com.au