Tamworth new ambulance station: multiple sites being examined for facility location

NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard was in town on Tuesday to announce the new facility, which is expected to cost between $6-10 million.

NSW Ambulance deputy director of operations Jordan Emery said consideration would be made to where the "surges of activity are or where the majority of workload takes place" before deciding on a site.

"Obviously it would be prudent of us to make sure that both [the city and South Tamworth] stations operate within the area of most significant operational activity but are not so close to be treading on each others toes," he said.

"That means a number of different locations across the northern side of Tamworth might be an appropriate location for the new station."

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There would "almost certainly" be more ambulances and staff, too.

"That is absolutely a prerequisite," Mr Hazzard said.

It's part of a $100 million phase of new stations being rolled out across the state.

The new Tamworth station, to be built on a 'greenfield site', will replace the 94-year-old Marius Street station currently in use.

The station has long been criticised for being out of date, and to old for the current workload.

NSW Ambulance deputy commissioner David Dutton said they would be working closely with Health Infrastructure NSW to find a place that would match "the current and forecast demand for work".

"One of the key features in the 24 stations delivered in phase one of the program has been that all of those stations have been designed with input from paramedics that have worked from them," Mr Dutton said.

"That means that we're providing modern paramedic health professionals with modern contemporary facilities that best equip them to do their work.

"Catering for growth in the future is a key component in the planning exercise, so that as our fleet changes, our practice changes, as paramedicine changes, we're well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future."

Important features are set to include a place for paramedics to "grab a bit of space and have a bit of a breather and a cuppa after a job, and debrief with each other and their managers and with their support people".

NSW Ambulance assistant commissioner Clare Lorenzen said it was particularly important for regional operations to have facilities that "encourage our staff to come out here but also to stay and live in our communities such as Tamworth".

"We're really proud to be able to provide facilities for both genders in regards to spaces to recline, relax and also undertake private activities as well so the new station is a fantastic announcement," she said.

Mr Hazzard anticipates "that the new ambulance station would be up and running in Tamworth inside two years".

"It certainly should be well and truly under way anyway during 2023 and hopefully will be actually complete by then," he said.

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