A development application for the $4.6 million station, to be built at 6 Commonwealth Street West Bathurst, is currently before Bathurst Regional Council.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole announced the site location on Monday.

But, APA secretary Steve Pearce said members in the Central West were angry that the Berejiklian Government was “penny pinching” by planning for a new station on cheap land that was subject to the unhealthy odour of sewage.

“Our paramedics deserve better than to be housed in a new building on a flood plain, within a whiff of decaying human excrement,” he said.

However, a Health Infrastructure (HI) spokesman said there will be no sewerage smells at the new station.

“The independent odour report assessed the seasonal conditions and historical data from various locations and concluded that the site is considered appropriate for the ambulance station,” he said.

Mr Pearce said in time of flooding, paramedics were always working overtime assisting people hurt in a natural disaster.

“It will be an even greater disaster for paramedics if they are unable to replenish vital supplies like drugs, bandages and medical gas because the Bathurst ambulance station is also under water,” he said.

The HI spokesman said the site was not within an identified flood-prone location, an independent assessment had determined.

APA claims that the site was too small, with fewer toilets and parking spaces than the William Street site were also disputed by HI.

“The site is substantially larger than the existing site,” the HI spokesman said.

“The proposed site will provide an additional 20 staff car parking spaces including one accessible space. There will also be 13 bays provided for ambulance vehicles.

“The new station will include an increased number of toilets, including accessible toilet facilities which are not available at the current site.”

The new site will also offer “significant security improvements” the HI spokesman said.

“[There will be a] secure gated boundary fence, a fully secure plant room and external CCTV coverage,” he said.

THE Australian Paramedics Association (NSW) has rejected the site of the new Bathurst ambulance Station as unacceptable because it is prone to flooding and too close to a smelly sewage treatment plant.

APA secretary Steve Pearce said members in the Central West were angry that the Berejiklian Government was penny pinching by planning for a new Ambulance station on cheap land subject to the unhealthy odour of sewage.

“Our paramedics deserve better than to be housed in a new building on a flood plain, within a ‘whiff’ of decaying human excrement,” he said.

“This isn’t the only place NSW Ambulance is trying to put paramedics close to the sewerage system. They want to do the same thing in Huskisson on the South Coast because no-one else wants the land.”

Mr Pearce said in time of flooding, paramedics were always working overtime assisting people hurt in a natural disaster.

“It will be an even greater disaster for paramedics if they are unable to replenish vital supplies like drugs, bandages and medical gas because the Bathurst Ambulance Station is also under water,” he said.

Mr Pearce said Bathurst MP Paul Toole, who sits in State Cabinet and appears to support the location of the new station, should rethink his position or face a campaign of action by paramedics.

“We have recently seen off a ludicrous attempt to use volunteers instead of a full compliment of paramedics at Coolamon near Wagga Wagga and we will be pushing for another backflip by NSW Ambulance on this ‘smelly’ proposal because the whole idea stinks,” he said.

“If Paul Toole thinks putting paramedics near a sewage plant is such a good idea, he should move his electorate office to the same location.”

Mr Pearce said apart from the stench and flooding, local paramedics had complained the site was too small, there was insufficient parking, traffic problems would impede ambulance movement and there were not enough toilets in the proposed building.

THE independent odour report assessed the seasonal conditions and historical data from various locations and concluded that the site is considered appropriate for the ambulance station.

The independent assessment carried out determined the proposed site is not within an identified flood prone location.

NSW Ambulance maintains a good neighbour practice to ensure that lights and siren warning devices are used appropriately with minimum impact on residents living near the station.

NSW Ambulance service planning conducted extensive research from multiple data sources to determine the ‘hot spot’ areas where a station should be located in order to provide the optimal response to local patients.

An independent traffic impact assessment and monitoring was completed and found that the new ambulance station is not considered to adversely impact on the surrounding network or result in any operational or known safety issues.

The new station is a purpose-built ambulance station, and the site is substantially larger than the existing site.

Staff currently utilise parking in a neighbouring public car park. The proposed site will provide an additional 20 staff car parking spaces including one accessible space. There will also be 13 bays provided for ambulance vehicles.

The new station will include an increased number of toilets, including accessible toilet facilities which are not available at the current site.

The new station will deliver significant security improvements on the current site, featuring a secure gated boundary fence, a fully secure plant room and external CCTV coverage.

Solar power will not be included on the new station. There will be rainwater reuse capacity as well as back-up power provided during periods of extended power outage.