Construction has started on the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial to honour the Victorian emergency service workers who have given their lives in service of their community.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville joined representatives from emergency service agencies to turn the first sod on the project in Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens on 3 June 2019.
The State Government has invested $2.3 million in developing, designing and building the memorial, which is due to be completed by the end of 2019.
It will give emergency services personnel, affected families and the Victorian community a place to remember the 177 people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their dedication to keeping others safe.
The memorial will honour Ambulance Victoria, Country Fire Authority (CFA), Forest Fire Management Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, Marine Search and Rescue, Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Victoria State Emergency Service personnel.
It has been designed following consultation with families and brigades of the firefighters recognised on the existing CFA memorial at Fiskville.
The emergency service agencies have also worked very closely with the City of Melbourne and Heritage Victoria to finalise a preferred concept design for the site.
The site for the memorial at Treasury Gardens is centrally located, quiet and peaceful, accessible by public transport and has disability friendly access.