For 89 years, the ambulance station on William Street has played an important role in the community, but as time wore on it has been stretched to the limit. 

The NSW Government acquired a greenfield site in Commonwealth Street to build a state-of-the-art ambulance station and had its plans approved by Bathurst Regional Council in February.

The new facility will include internal parking for up to 10 emergency vehicles, administration and office areas, amenities, logistics and storage areas, a fleet maintenance area, external wash bay, advanced training complex and staff parking.

On Monday, member for Bathurst Paul Toole said turning the sod was an important milestone in delivering a long-awaited facility. 

“This was an election commitment that was made a number of years ago by the NSW Government that we would be building a brand new ambulance station here in Bathurst,” he said. 

“What we’ve seen is the progress and looking at different sites around the city, and here we are today officially marking the start of the new ambulance station.

“When you have a look at the ambulance station in Bathurst, it’s 89 years old, so it’s well and truly served its purpose, well and truly served the people of Bathurst and the surrounding area, and it has certainly been very good to our local paramedics.

“But with the growing city, the growing [number of] paramedics and being able to support their needs, we need a brand new station.”

Superintendent Brad Porter, the zone manager for Central West NSW Ambulance, said the new facility will address Bathurst needs now and for the future.  

“All the service planning for the size of the station, the site location, has all been projected out to 2030,” he said. “It is a modern, purpose-built health facility that, after many years of consultation and planning, is one of 23 sites across NSW that are currently being built as part of the $122 million RAIR (Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration) program.

“This facility is going to not only house the ambulance station that will service Bathurst and surrounding communities, it also has the zone office … and it has our regional education unit.” 

The Central West Zone Office is located above the existing ambulance station, while the education unit is at Charles Sturt University. The new facility will bring all the operations under one roof. 

The new station is scheduled for completion in 2019. 

Bathurst company Hines Constructions will be carrying out the project. 

The location chosen for the facility has previously drawn criticism, as it will be built across from the sewage treatment plant.