Construction Begins On New Ambulance Station At Innovation Campus

Construction Begins On New Ambulance Station At Innovation Campus

State-of-the-art facility will support better health outcomes for the Illawarra

University of Wollongong Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Sustainable Futures) Professor David Currow has welcomed the start of construction of a new state-of-the-art ambulance station co-located at the Innovation Campus.

NSW Minister for Health, Regional Health, the Illawarra and South Coast and Member for Keira, the Hon. Ryan Park MP along with NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong, the Hon. Paul Scully MP attended an event at the Innovation Campus on Friday (7 July 2023) and turned the first sod at the site, marking the start of construction.  

Professor Currow represented UOW at the event, which was also attended by Wollongong paramedics and representatives from NSW Ambulance and NSW Health Infrastructure.

“Innovation Campus is a place where research, business and community work in partnership to bring new ideas, new investment and new solutions to our region,” Professor Currow said.

“Co-locating this ambulance station here is another way of achieving that; particularly supporting better health outcomes for our region.”

The new Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station will provide paramedics with a high-quality base and the latest facilities and equipment.

Minister Park said the sod turning event marked a significant milestone in delivering Fairy Meadow’s first ambulance station.

 “It’s an exciting day for the community as construction gets underway on Fairy Meadow’s first purpose-built ambulance station, which will provide a high-quality base for our local paramedics, tailored to the emergency care needs of the region,” Mr Park said.

“The NSW Government is committed to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure as our local paramedics need and deserve the best possible workplace for emergency medical care, and this new ambulance station will make a real difference to their working environment.”

The station will feature internal parking for up to five emergency ambulance vehicles and a wash bay, administration and office areas, staff rest facilities, logistics and storage spaces.

Minister Scully said the Fairy Meadow station will bolster emergency care in the Illawarra, supporting the existing stations in Wollongong, Bulli and Dapto as well as new stations to be built in Warilla and Unanderra in coming years.

“I am really pleased that the community of Fairy Meadow will have their own ambulance station, with dedicated paramedics who can respond to the needs of the growing local community,” Mr Scully said.

“The Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station will significantly enhance emergency care for the people in this community.”

The new Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station will be fitted with a solar energy system, which enables battery storage and an emergency power source for essential building services such as lighting and roller doors.

The new Fairy Meadow Ambulance Station is expected to be completed in early 2024, with construction company HPAC Pty Ltd appointed to deliver the project.

Story by Benjamine Long, 10 July 2023