News that a new ambulance station is being planned for Medowie to match the extraordinary housing growth of recent months has been welcomed Port Stephens MP Kate Washington.
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The long awaited announcement, according to the Health Department, would ensure paramedics have the infrastructure needed to deliver high quality care for the people of Medowie.
"This is exciting news for the Medowie community which has been lobbying the government for a new ambulance station for some years," Ms Washington said.
"It is tremendous to finally learn that the government is committed to delivering this project. Medowie has a population of around 9500... this announcement provides the infrastructure needed to match the growing population of Medowie and, just as importantly, it comes with its own paramedics and new jobs."
A Health Infrastructure spokesperson told the Examiner that NSW Ambulance was working with it to identify and prioritise projects and locations within rural and regional NSW as part of the recently announced new $100 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) 2 program and that "planning is underway to deliver this government's commitment".
"Decisions on refurbishing or replacing ambulance stations are made on advice which takes into consideration an up to date assessment of the current condition of the station, and the anticipated future needs of the community," the Health Infrastructure spokesperson said.
"Decisions on staffing numbers for new stations are made closer to completion of projects under the RAIR initiative and help paramedics respond to emergencies in the community as quickly as possible.
"The State Budget 2020/21 committed $100 million towards the new RAIR 2 program over two years."
Medowie Progress Association treasurer Greg Brown said that he hoped the community would have a say in where the new ambulance station would be sited.
"Our preference is for an emergency hub which includes not only an ambulance station but also Police, Fire and Rescue and SES headquarters. Medowie is a growing town and needs to be serviced as such."
Federal MP Meryl Swanson said that the federal government could play a role by funding the necessary infrastructure to service the growth of Medowie and other similar regional towns.
"That includes health services generally and accessible roads, starting with the upgrade of the M1, which provide direct transport to the major hospitals in Newcastle and Maitland. We can't have ambulances caught up in built-up traffic as they try to navigate our congested roads."
In other Medowie news
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