Council still keen to move ambulance station

KATINA CURTIS

KIAMA Council has vowed to keep up pressure on the NSW Ambulance Service regarding the relocation of the Kiama ambulance station.

The council wants the station to move near the fire station at the west end of Terralong Street.

General manager Michael Forsyth said the fire station moved to its existing location in the late 1980s and at that time a site was set aside for the ambulance station.

"The idea was for the ambulance station at Hindmarsh Park to be relocated and give an opportunity for the expansion of the park as well as an arts facility down in Hindmarsh Park," Mr Forsyth said.

Moving the ambulance station would create an emergency services precinct, with the SES headquarters also located in the area.

As well as a site, the council is offering $150,000 towards the cost of the new building.

The ambulance service has told the council previously that moving the Kiama station was not a justifiable expense with its existing set of priorities.

At the September council meeting, a report on the issue that had been brought to the February 2007 meeting was republished.

Added to this was a statement from Mr Forsyth that the council was still waiting for a preliminary assessment of the proposed site for the relocation, which had been promised for February.

In April, the NSW Ambulance Service advised the council this would be completed as soon as practicable.

Mayor Sandra McCarthy said she was disappointed to have had to bring the report back to the council with little or no news, but she wanted councillors to be aware that she and Mr Forsyth were continuing to actively pursue the issue.

Councillor Trevor Fredericks told the meeting he was surprised NSW Ambulance Service had not taken up the offer, which he believed was very generous.

He put a motion, which was carried, that "a delegation of council and community representatives meet with the Minister to further pursue the matter".