The first sod has officially been turned on the new Kiama Ambulance Station site.
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The $5 million project will see the relocation and upgrade of the station, which NSW Ambulance Illawarra zone superintendant Paul Edwards said had been “ageing for sometime”.
“This is a modernisation of ambulance operations in this area and the staff are looking forward to moving into the new buildings,” Mr Edwards said.
READ MORE: Ambulance station project progressing
“Technology wise, it is up-to-date, which we have struggled with in the past, so it allows easy access to clinical notices and updates, the computerisation of everything, and makes the working life of the paramedic in the area a lot easier for a job that is already difficult.
“This building represents that technology change, so we are looking forward to it opening next year.”
Mr Edwards was joined by Kiama MP Kiama Gareth Ward on the shovels at the Terralong Street site.
“One of the things I love about being a member of parliament, is you get to argue for things and take up causes that eventually result in outcomes that take care of the community,” Mr Ward said.
“I had a lot of people raise with me the need for a new site for the ambulance service; a new home that better meets the needs of a growing community, so they could access the other villages of Kiama, obviously congestion has become a problem in the Kiama CBD as it has become more popular.”
I’m so pleased the ambulance service will co-locate here with Fire and Rescue NSW and the SES.
- Gareth Ward
Mr Ward highlighted how important it was for emergency service departments to work closely together.
“I’m so pleased the ambulance service will co-locate here with Fire and Rescue NSW and the SES,” he said.
“One of the points to come out of the Royal Commission from the Victorian bushfires, was that in order to make sure our services operate much more effectively, it’s important to have them co-located.”
Mr Ward said the new facility was as much for NSW Ambulance staff as it was for the community.
“Infrastructure is one thing, but the most important thing is the hard working and dedicated staff who care for our community. They play a really important part at some very critical times, so we need to make sure they have modern facilities.”