Construction of a brand new ambulance station has officially commenced in the NSW north coast city of Coffs Harbour.
The occasion was marked with NSW Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor and Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh turning the first sod at the site on Marcia Street.
The new station will replace the existing station at Coffs Harbour Health Campus and is due to be completed early next year.
Mr Singh said the station will boost frontline emergency care in the region.
“This new station has been designed and tailored to the needs of the Coffs Harbour community and will enable paramedics to continue delivering high-quality emergency healthcare,” Mr Singh said.
“The new Coffs Harbour Ambulance Station will also support the existing ambulance station recently completed in Sawtell and the refurbishment of Macksville station which is nearing completion.”
The station is being constructed by Patterson Building Group, and will feature internal parking for up to 12 emergency ambulance vehicles, relief accommodation for paramedics, an internal wash bay, administration and office areas, logistics and storage and staff parking.
Minister Taylor said the NSW Government was committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for local communities
“Today’s sod turn is the next step in delivering a new ambulance station for the Coffs Harbour community, ensuring local paramedics have access to the latest facilities to provide the best emergency medical care needs to our local communities, now and into the future,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Our paramedics need the best possible workplace to provide emergency medical care to the community, and this new station will make a real difference to their working environment.”
The new station is being built as part of the NSW Government’s $132 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program Stage 1 that has already delivered 24 new or upgraded ambulance stations across the state
Another $100 million will deliver 30 new stations under Stage 2 of the program.
