An artist’s impression of the new Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station.
Construction of Fairy Meadow’s new ambulance station is almost complete, with paramedics awaiting the green light to move into the state-of-the-art facility.
The new purpose-built station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program for 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations.
Co-located at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, it will feature internal parking bays for up to five emergency ambulance vehicles and a wash bay, administration and office areas, staff rest facilities, gym, logistics and storage areas and on-site parking.
In the coming months, the focus will be on landscaping and other finishing touches, including finalising the IT infrastructure and cabling systems as a priority to ensure seamless connectivity and functionality for the new ambulance to operate effectively.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the NSW Government was committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for communities.
“Fairy Meadow’s new ambulance station will provide paramedics with a high-quality base with the latest facilities and equipment to meet the current and future emergency care needs of the local community,” Mr Park said.
“The new ambulance station on Innovation Way will significantly enhance access to mobile emergency health care for the growing community across the Illawarra.
“It’s strategically located to the north but close to the centre, close to the hospital, and able to get onto major arterial roads quickly and efficiently.”
The station, part of the largest regional ambulance infrastructure investment in NSW Ambulance’s 130-year history, aims to serve the growing Illawarra community.
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said he was pleased Fairy Meadow’s first ambulance station was nearly complete to provide a high-quality base for the Illawarra’s paramedics.
“I look forward to the day when paramedics can move into this state-of-the-art facility and add to the local ambulance network,” Mr Scully said.
“As Wollongong grows, it is important that we invest in health infrastructure to meet the needs of the community.”
It’s expected the station will be staffed by 24 full-time paramedics.
The NSW Government is recruiting 2500 additional paramedics, nurses, doctors and support staff to optimise ambulance response times and meet current and future demand across the state.
Additional stations are also planned to bolster the network of stations across the Illawarra at Warilla and Unanderra as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.
Expressions of interest for suitable sites to build a new ambulance station at Unanderra are open until 3 pm on 10 October.
To find out more, or to lodge an expression of interest, visit the Health Infrastructure website.
Original Article published by Kellie O’Brien on Region Illawarra.
