The city’s ambulance station on the corner of Durham and William streets dates back to 1928, but has now reached its use by date. 

Earlier this month NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner came to Bathurst to announce the government had come up with funding, to the tune of $6.6 million, for a study to determine the best site for the region’s new ambulance station and to build the facility.

It is hoped the new station would be up and running during the next term of the state government, should it be re-elected on March 28.

In making the announcement, the health minister indicated the current building would be perfect for some sort of “adaptive reuse”.

Western Advocate columnist Lachlan Sullivan said the late Roy Davey was a long-serving member of NSW Ambulance Transport Service Board Bathurst District and had asked him to “keep an eye” on the future of the Bathurst station – if and when a new station was built.

“I gave a commitment to Roy that I would do everything possible to see the ambulance station returned to the Bathurst community, post its use as an ambulance station,” Mr Sullivan said.

“Roy correctly pointed out that this building belongs to the people of Bathurst having been paid for as a result of extensive community fundraising.

“This is evidenced by the plaque on the front of the building that the people of Bathurst paid for the construction of this building. Hence, it is only fair and equitable that this building, once vacated by the Ambulance Service, be returned to the people of Bathurst as Minister Skinner said for ‘adaptive reuse’ (Western Advocate, March 3, 2015).”

Bathurst MP Paul Toole said yesterday he would be making representations to the minister to see if the ambulance station could be handed back to the city.

“I believe that is an issue which could be raised during the scoping study and I fully intend talking to the minister about it,” he said. 

“That is a great location down there at the bottom of William Street and it would have endless potential for something special. It’s also a great looking building.”

Mr Toole said initial investigations would have to determine who exactly owns the ambulance station.

“That would have to be the starting point, but the idea of giving it back to the people of Bathurst has merit and is quite exciting,” he said.

Councillor Michael Coote said yesterday that it only seemed fair that if the ambulance station was built thanks to the generosity of Bathurst residents, it would have to come back to the people as a matter of protocol.

“There would have to be titles to work out, but I think it would be great if it could come into council’s hands because that site has so much potential,” he said. “If the government wanted to give it to us, I’d take it no worries at all. The only trouble with developing the site could be parking as there’s only a handful of spots there. The ones at the back are for the childcare centre.”

In the meantime, Mr Sullivan said that, should the ambulance station be returned to the people of Bathurst, council would be in a good position to manage it, along the same lines as the Bathurst Community Club.

“They could lease out the building,” he said. “It could be ideal for an upstairs restaurant overlooking the Haymarket Reserve because it has a nice deck. Downstairs could be a daytime cafe with outdoor dining areas which could be used by CBD workers and visitors. Its location means maximum use of the Haymarket Reserve could be made and there is plenty of parking there.”