NSW Health Infrastructure has lodged a development application seeking to build the new station on vacant land at 6 Commonwealth Street, next to Bathurst PCYC.

The plans were put on public exhibition and council received two submissions regarding traffic concerns at the intersection of Durham and Commonwealth streets, and odour concerns from the sewage treatment plant.

The Australian Paramedics Association also raised odour concerns whens plans for the new $4.6 million ambulance station were revealed in September.

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 sewage odour.

But a Statement of Environmental Effects submitted to council says the site is considered suitable for an ambulance station subject to a number of odour mitigation measures, including installing air conditioning intakes away from the sewage treatment plant, and ensuring the sir conditioning provides suitable ventilation without the need to open doors and windows.

“[Also] include planting along the north-western and north-eastern site boundaries, where possible, to provide screening and filtering of odour emissions from Bathurst STP,” the SoEE states.

“Planting vegetation with the potential to release a natural masking fragrance is also recommended.”

Plans for the ambulance station include 10 internal ambulance parking spaces, three external ambulance parking spaces, an internal wash bay, 20 car parking spaces, and internal facilities including administration and storage spaces along with toilets, showers, lockers, kitchen and common areas.

Council will host a public discussion forum on the proposed ambulance station site following the monthly policy committee meeting on Wednesday night.