Celebrating the good news today of a new $8.5 million ambulance station for Glen Innes, to be built on the hospital grounds, with local paramedics Jacob Montafia, left, Cassandra Copeland, Zone Manager Chief Superintendent Tim Collins, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Mayor Rob Banham, Glen Innes Station Officer John Alford and Duty Operations Manager Inspector Terry Savage.
Thursday, 26 May 2022
GLEN Innes will soon have a brand new $8.5 million ambulance station co-located on the site of the redeveloped Glen Innes District Hospital, Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
An elated Mr Marshall was joined by NSW Ambulance Superintendent Tim Collins, local paramedics, Mayor Rob Banham and Councillors for the historic announcement, which will see the replacement of the existing dilapidated 74-year-old station on Bourke Street, with a new and much larger state-of-the-art facility.
“This is another huge win for the Glen Innes community, and importantly, for our hard-working and dedicated local paramedics and I couldn’t be happier,” Mr Marshall said.
“Our paramedics need and deserve the best possible workplace to provide emergency medical care and this new station will make a world of difference to their working environment.”
Last month, Mr Marshall met with local paramedics to discuss the need for a new station in Glen Innes, rather than a ‘refurbishment’ of the existing station, which was initially proposed by NSW Health.
“Opened in 1948 the Bourke Street station would have been modern for its time, but with the larger vehicles and more advanced equipment of today it is no longer suitable,” Mr Marshall said.
“It can barely house two of the three ambulances based in Glen Innes and likely won’t even be physically able to accommodate the next Ambulance models, let alone all the needs of our hard-working local and visiting paramedics.
“Any refurbishment would have simply be a short-term band-aid fix, when the long term cure for a healthy ambulance service in Glen Innes is the inclusion of a new station within the hospital footprint, which will now be delivered.”
Mr Marshall said he was delighted that feedback from local paramedics had been taken into account for the design of the new station.
“I’m really pleased the new station will be built with an eye to the future, large enough to cater for the needs of the growing number of ambulances, vehicles and paramedics in Glen Innes over the next 40 to 50 years,” he said.
“This building will have all the features paramedics require to conduct their operations safely and efficiently.
“It will include feature internal parking for up to six emergency ambulance vehicles, an internal wash bay, administration and office space, logistics and storage areas and staff parking and accommodation.
“It made sense to everyone, from a continuity-of-care aspect, that a location for a new premises is included on hospital grounds where nurses, doctors and paramedics can support each other.”
Mr Marshall said the purpose-built new station, along with the $50 million redevelopment for the hospital, would enhance healthcare for the Glen Innes community for generations to come.
“Today marks the next significant step in delivering improved health services for Glen Innes locals, by ensuring paramedics have access to the latest facilities to best serve the emergency medical care needs of the region,” Mr Marshall said.
“I thank the Minister for Regional Health for hearing the concerns local ambulance personnel had regarding the functionality of the old building, and for her support in achieving this outcome.”
Mr Marshall said he expected construction to start on the new ambulance station in October this year, with local paramedics moving in and operating from the new facility in July next year.
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the move would future-proof care in the Glen Innes region.
“This new facility will provide local paramedics with a contemporary working environment and the latest equipment, ensuring they can continue to deliver high-quality emergency care to the Glen Innes community,” Mrs Taylor said.