General News
14 July, 2022
Planning underway on new Avoca Ambulance Station
Avoca will soon be kitted out with a new ambulance station following an announcement on Tuesday, with planning now underway on the multi-million dollar facility and a builder to be appointed later this year. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas...
Avoca will soon be kitted out with a new ambulance station following an announcement on Tuesday, with planning now underway on the multi-million dollar facility and a builder to be appointed later this year.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas visited the existing Avoca Ambulance Station in Liebig Street on Wednesday to announce that planning had commenced on the new facility.
A preferred site in Rowe Street has been named for the new station, which will feature a drive through three-bay garage for ambulances, two rest and recline areas for paramedics, relievers quarters, training facilities, a fully equipped kitchen and improved security and car parking.
The new station is being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority, with the new location to create easier access to major highways and town services like shops, schools, and aged care facilities and the recreation reserve.
Speaking on Wednesday, Minister Thomas said the new station and facilities would support paramedics to continue delivering life-saving care and treatment.
“The site for the new station has been chosen because of its functionality in terms of getting paramedics in and out and where they need to be as quickly as they can,” she said.
“Importantly, this will be an upgraded station that has much better facilities to support our paramedics so they can focus on doing their life-saving work.
“We know that right now our paramedics are under more pressure than ever before and ensuring paramedics have that time to be able to have their breaks is crucial — the new station will provide the refuge our paramedics need.”
The new station in Avoca is one of 15 across the state to be replaced as part of almost $250 million announced by the Victorian Government since 2015.
Minister Thomas said the Victorian Government would continue to support the state’s healthcare workforce.
“The Andrews Government has had a real focus on supporting our hard working paramedics and building stations is all about ensuring they have the facilities they need to enable them to get out there and save lives,” she said.
“Ensuring we’ve got a good spread of ambulance stations across rural and regional Victoria is vitally important, of course our paramedics do their most important work on the road but it is about ensuring there are facilities that will continue to attract people to this fantastic profession as well.”
Minister Thomas also said it was important for residents to only call Triple Zero in the event of an emergency, as Ambulance Victoria continues to experience high demand.
“Ambulance Victoria is under pressure because of the winter season so not only are we seeing an uptick in COVID cases now, we’re also experiencing a flu season we haven’t had for the last few years,” she said.
“At the moment we are doing all that we can to support our paramedics and all our healthcare workers to deliver lifesaving treatment and work.
“Our paramedics do a great job every single day getting people to the places they’ll receive the care they need.
“It’s really important to remind all Victorians that ambulances are an emergency service and that they need to be available to deal with emergencies.”
Ambulance Victoria Grampians Regional Director Chris James welcomed the announcement that planning had begun for Avoca’s new station, which he said would better enable paramedics to deliver the best care and treatment.
“We welcome the announcement that a new ambulance branch will be built on Rowe Street, Avoca,” he said.
“This is a great milestone for the Avoca and wider Pyrenees community and our hardworking local paramedics.
“The purpose-built facility will be a modern workplace that paramedics can truly be proud of, where they can learn new life-saving skills to deliver the very best care
“Our aim is to provide our patients with the best care, every time, and as communities like Avoca grow, it is important we grow with them.”