The Fairy Meadow community is a step closer to a new ambulance station with the facility to be located on the University of Wollongong's Innovation Campus.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said today's announcement marks a significant milestone in delivering this vital service to the growing Fairy Meadow community.
"The new Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government's $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program and will support local paramedics to provide the best emergency medical care now and into the future," Mr Hazzard said.
"The NSW Government is committed to significantly increasing the capacity of NSW Ambulance. Under the RAIR program, 54 new or upgraded stations are being delivered, with 39 already completed.
"In total, the Liberal & Nationals Government is investing more than $1 billion across three major NSW Ambulance infrastructure programs, with more than 100 projects announced since 2014."
Parliamentary Secretary for Wollongong and the Illawarra Peter Poulos said the new Fairy Meadow station will bolster emergency care in the Illawarra and provide a first-class workplace for local paramedics.
"Our paramedics will have a purpose-built station with modern facilities, including internal parking for six emergency ambulance vehicles, an internal wash bay, relief accommodation for paramedics and a meeting and training room," Mr Poulos said.
"This amazing new facility will support the existing station in Wollongong, along with the recently announced station in Warilla, and is only possible thanks to the NSW Government's record investment in ambulance infrastructure across the state."
NSW Ambulance identified the University campus location following a comprehensive service planning process using best practice modelling software that maps Triple Zero calls.
UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Davidson welcomed the decision to base the new ambulance station on the UOW's Innovation Campus.
"The co-location of this ambulance station on the Innovation Campus, where the University has plans to build and deliver a world-class Health and Wellbeing Precinct, aligns with our mission to support better health outcomes for our region," Professor Davidson said.
Construction of the ambulance station is expected to commence early next year and be complete by late 2023.
As part of the NSW Government's 2022-23 Budget, NSW Ambulance received a record $1.76 billion boost to frontline emergency care, with which it will recruit 2,128 new staff and build 30 more stations as part of the NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.
The NSW Government's $1 billion investment in NSW Ambulance infrastructure includes:
- Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy ($184 million) - 19 projects (18 projects completed to date with one due for completion late 2023). Program began 2014
- Ambulance Infrastructure Program ($615.5 million) 30 projects (8 in early planning). Announced in 2022-23 State Budget.
- RAIR program Stage 1 & 2 ($232 million) - 54 projects, 39 complete, 15 underway. Program began 2015.
