Craigieburn’s new ambulance station still waiting to be built nearly two years later

TWO years after the state government promised a new ambulance station for Craigieburn it is no closer to being built, a location for it hasn’t even been decided — and no one can explain why.

A NEW ambulance station promised for Craigieburn in 2016 is no closer to being built nearly two years later.

The State Labor Government announced in November 2016 the suburb would benefit from a new ambulance station as part of a $500 million investment in Victoria’s paramedic services.

The new purpose-built station, featuring a drive in-and-out garage, rest and decline areas for paramedics, training rooms and a kitchen, was initially expected to be completed by the end of this year.

NEW AMBULANCE STATION, MORE PARAMEDICS FOR CRAIGIEBURN

However, the Leader can reveal a site location hasn’t even been decided yet.

Ambulance Victoria regional director Michael Georgiou and Yuroke state Labor MP Ros Spence confirmed the process for finding a site for the new ambulance station was ongoing.

“Site selection is essential for ensuring our paramedics are strategically placed to get to emergencies sooner,” Ms Spence said.

Ms Spence was unable to explain why the process of selecting a suitable site for the new ambulance station was taking so long.

Craigieburn’s existing ambulance station. Picture: Kylie Else

Mr Georgiou said the focus for his organisation was on “identifying the best location to continue to serve the community now and well into the future”.

Liberal candidate for Yuroke Jim Overend slammed the Labor Government for its delay in delivering Craigieburn its new station.

“The delays in our ambulance station show how out of touch Ros Spence and Daniel Andrews are,” he said.

“The best way to get this much-needed ambulance station built is to elect me in November.”

Ms Spence hit back, arguing the Liberal Party had “waged war on our paramedics”.

“After the 2010 election, the Liberals took money budgeted for the Hume area and reallocated it elsewhere,” she said.

“I wouldn’t trust them to build anything here.”

Meanwhile, Ambulance Victoria introduced an extra 24-hour team of paramedics to Craigieburn in May last year.

The suburb’s existing ambulance station in Lygon Drive will remain when the new complex is finally built.

Ambulance Services Minister Jill Hennessy said Craigieburn’s new ambulance station was targeted for completion by June next year.