The Old Bar community is a step closer to a new state-of-the-art ambulance station with the turning of first sod to mark the start of construction on the Old Bar Road site.
Nationals' Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said the event marks a significant milestone in delivering a new ambulance station for the Old Bar community.
"Our team is committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure and it's wonderful to see the community of Old Bar benefit," Mr Bromhead said.
"Our local paramedics need and deserve the best possible workplace for emergency medical care, and this new ambulance station will make a real difference to their working environment."
The new ambulance station is part of the NSW Nationals' $232 million investment in the Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program.
The station will include internal parking for up to four emergency ambulance vehicles, relief accommodation, administration and office areas, staff amenities, logistics and storage areas, an internal wash bay and staff parking.
Nationals' candidate for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, said it's fantastic to see the Old Bar Ambulance Station progressing.
"Our local paramedics need and deserve the best possible workplace for emergency medical care, and this new ambulance station will make a real difference," Mrs Thompson said.
Nationals MLC Scott Barrett, who helped mark today's milestone, said Old Bar Ambulance Station is due for completion in coming months, with construction company AW Edwards undertaking construction.
"It's an exciting day for the community as construction gets underway on Old Bar's first purpose-built ambulance station, which will provide a high-quality base for our local paramedics, tailored to the emergency care needs of the region," Mr Barrett said.
"This new station will support the recently completed ambulance stations in Forster and Medowie and refurbishments at the Taree, Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens and Stockton ambulance stations, boosting access to mobile emergency health care across Myall Lakes and the mid-coast."
The Nationals are committed to significantly increasing the capacity of NSW Ambulance and the $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program is delivering 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations. More than 100 ambulance projects have been announced since 2014, of which two thirds are located in rural and regional areas of NSW.
As part of the NSW Government's 2022-23 Budget, NSW Ambulance received a record $1.76 billion boost to frontline emergency care. The Budget boost includes 30 more stations and 1858 new paramedics, of which 705 will be allocated to regional areas.
