Dee Why ambulance station: Hunt for site of new ‘state-of-the-art’ facility on northern beaches

Land is sought for a new state-of-the-art ambulance station on the northern beaches that will replace an ‘aged’ facility that has been operating for more than 60 years.

The forecourt of the “aged” NSW Ambulance station at Narrabeen — opened in 1961 — that will be replaced by a new “state-of-the-art” facility at Dee Why. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

The hunt has started for land to accommodate a controversial new “state-of-the-art” NSW Ambulance station on the northern beaches.

Health Minister Ryan Park has confirmed that the NSW Labor government is looking for property owners wanting to sell their land so the station can be built at Dee Why.

The facility, which will replace the “aged” ambulance station at Narrabeen and help cope with a six per cent rise in demand for ambulance services last year, was promised by the previous Coalition government just before the March 2023 state election.

Mr Park confirmed in September last year, after representations by the Independent MP for Wakehurst Michael Regan, that the Labor government would honour the commitment.

But the future closure of the 63-year-old Narrabeen station has attracted fierce criticism.

Temporary fencing, pictured on Sunday, at the 63-year-old NSW Ambulance station on Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Liberal MP for Pittwater, Rory Amon, said the government had not provided clarity on how services would be redistributed once it closed the Narrabeen facility.

Health authorities have said all paramedics and ambulances at Narrabeen would transfer to Dee Why. There are already ambulance stations at Avalon, Balgowlah, Belrose and Mona Vale.

“Moving resources from Narrabeen further south would put lives (in Pittwater) at risk,” Mr Amon said.

Mr Park told parliament that the current “Narrabeen ambulance station building is aged”.

“It does not meet current standards for an ambulance station,” he said.

The modern NSW Ambulance station at Mona Vale Hospital. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

Mr Park said the Dee Why station would “ensure the community has improved access to emergency care when and where they need it most”.

Health Infrastructure has placed newspaper ads calling for expressions of interest from property owners who may want to sell land, “in and around” Dee Why, for use as an ambulance station.

“The exact location … will be confirmed once the land search and acquisition process is finalised. Construction and operational time frames will be determined as the project planning progresses,” according to a Health NSW Statement.

The Narrabeen ambulance station in August, 2001. There are concerns that when it is closed, ambulance services in Pittwater will be affected. Picture: Carmela Roche

Mr Park said that the new, modern and purpose-built ambulance station would “support local paramedics to provide the best emergency medical care now and into the future”.

“This new infrastructure will improve network coverage and support the existing stations in the ambulance network in NSW,” he said.

Mr Regan said with a clear commitment now from the government for a station at Dee Why, “the next step is to decide where it will be built”.

A newspaper advertisement calling for expressions of interest from property owners considering selling their land to the NSW Government to build a new ambulance station "in and around" Dee Why and other locations across Sydney and the state.

“I want to see the new ambulance station built and operational as soon as possible, so I am encouraged to see NSW Health being proactive, putting out the call for potential sellers to come forward,” the MP said.

“I encourage anyone in Dee Why thinking of selling their property to nominate through the expression of interest process, so the best site can be found for this crucial public use.”

For more information on the expressions of interest process, click here.