Frontline emergency care for residents in the Illawarra has received a major boost, with a new ambulance station set to be built near Unanderra.
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the announcement forms part of a record $1.76 billion NSW Government investment which will transform NSW Ambulance services over the next four years with more than 2,000 extra staff, including 1,858 paramedics, and 30 new ambulance stations across NSW.
“Ambulance services are experiencing unprecedented demand and this new station will not only keep us ahead of the curve but provide our hardworking paramedics with first-class facilities as they assist communities in their time of need,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The NSW Government is investing in ambulance stations right across the state to ensure communities continue to receive emergency care when they need it, no matter where they live.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Wollongong and the Illawarra Peter Poulos welcomed the news which he said will ensure the local community has improved access to emergency care when and where they need it most.
“The investment will also bring more jobs to the local area as well as providing a better working environment for our paramedics who are doing their utmost to serve communities across the state,” Mr Poulos said.
“The new station will feature internal parking for emergency ambulance vehicles, vehicle wash facilities, staff parking, multipurpose spaces to support staff education and rest, logistics and storage spaces, an office area for administration as well as staff amenities.”
NSW Ambulance identifies suitable locations to improve ambulance response times for patients using best practice modelling software that maps Triple Zero call demands.
The new ambulance station at Unanderra is being delivered as part of the $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure program, which is also delivering a new ambulance station at Warilla. Both new ambulance stations are in addition to the existing station in Wollongong and the new ambulance station underway for Fairy Meadow which will be located on the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.
Minister Hazzard said the exact location for the new ambulance station at Unanderra will be determined once further planning is completed which includes working with key stakeholders to identify a suitable site.
“We will shortly commence a process to identify potential sites for the new ambulance station. This process will ensure we best meet the needs of the Illawarra community and our emergency staff and is currently underway for the Warilla location.”
The NSW Government is committed to increasing the capacity of NSW Ambulance. In total, more than $1 billion is being invested across three major NSW Ambulance infrastructure programs, with more than 100 projects announced since 2014.
The NSW Government’s $1 billion investment in NSW Ambulance infrastructure includes:
· Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy ($184 million) – 19 projects – 18 of these projects have been completed to date with one due for completion in late 2023. The program began in 2014
· NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program ($615.5 million) 30 projects – eight of which are in early planning. The program was announced in 2022-23 State Budget.
· RAIR program Stage 1 & 2 ($232 million) – 54 projects – 39 of these have been completed, with 15 underway. The program began in 2015.