The shiny new ambulance station on Wakaden Street was officially opened on Tuesday to the delight of paramedics.
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The station was already up and running in December last year, but it truly became official when the ribbon was snipped by Member for Murray Austin Evans.
"This is a fantastic achievement not only for the local ambulance staff but all the people of Griffith," Mr Evans said.
The new ambulance station boasts state-of-the-art lifesaving technology and is far more spacious than the dingy old ambulance station.
"The purpose-built infrastructure delivers a better working environment for the staff, one that is tailored to the needs of regional and rural communities and best enables our paramedics and qualified volunteer ambulance officers to deliver care."
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The $4 million in NSW government funding for the station comes from the $122 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program, the single largest investment in NSW Ambulance's history.
Southern NSW Zone Manager Mark Gibbs said the money would go a long way to serve not only the people of Griffith, but also the surrounding towns who would depend on the Griffith station.
"We are ensuring our rural communities in NSW see the same enhanced facilities as our metropolitan services do, and I think that’s evident from what we see here today," Mr Gibbs said.
"This new facility is optimal in terms of size, structure, and location for our hardworking paramedic team who work from here and surrounds."
The new ambulance station includes parking bays for up to eight ambulance vehicles, an administration and office area, a logistics and storage room, training and meeting space, on site staff parking, and an external vehicle wash bay.
The station also has its own fleet maintenance area, meaning that vehicles will no longer need to be shipped back and forth to Wagga Wagga for repairs.
The station is spacious, with room to grow even more alongside the city's population.
As Griffith solidifies its status as a bustling regional hub, the station will be prepared to take on more paramedics, more staff, and more challenges as the years go by.
Griffith City Council mayor John Dal Broi said council had been pushing for a new ambulance station for years, and he was delighted to see this day finally arrive.
"Council’s had an input over a long period of time and to see it open today is very satisfying," Councillor Dal Broi said.
The station can be found near the corner of Crossing Street and Wakaden Street.
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