Brigade home on horizon

The construction of a family home will hopefully lead to a volunteer bushfire brigade moving into its own new premises next year.

The Kalgan Volunteer Bushfire Brigade is set to benefit from the generosity of the local construction industry when the new four-bedroom, two-bathroom home is finished and later sold.

Construction of the home in the Oyster Harbour estate is expected to start in a fortnight, with a host a local subcontractors and suppliers putting forward donations.

Builder Home Group WA Great Southern believes the generosity and resulting savings will allow the brigade to build its own new premises next year after it receives proceeds of the sale.

Home Group WA Great Southern general manager Mario Balatti said the aim was to have the new home built on Ballindean Avenue within eight months.

Mr Balatti said with Heath Development Company and selling agent Wellington and Reeves also on-board, he was confident an impressive sale price would be secured for the bushfire brigade.

Kalgan Volunteer Bushfire Brigade president Grant Solomon said a new state-of-the-art headquarters in lower Kalgan would replace the brigade’s two sheds.

It would include a three-truck bay shed, a meeting room and toilets, he said.

“It’s going to be absolutely fantastic socially for us as well,” he said.

“Our numbers have grown a little bit in recent times, but like all brigades, we are always looking for new younger members as a few of us are getting a little bit long in the tooth.”