Health Minister Guy Barnett is considering Jan Cameron’s Bicheno ambulance offer

An offer, which could save the state government $1.2m and ease the Bicheno community’s ambulance woes, hasn’t been ruled out by the state government. Latest.

The state government's plan for an ambulance station in Bicheno.

A $1.2m offer which would solve a disagreement between the state government and the Bicheno community about the location of a new ambulance station is being considered, the Health Minister says.

The Health Department was intent on building the new station at 60a Burgess Street, Bicheno, a site it compulsorily acquired from East Coast developer Bicheno Investments.

The company had its own plans for the site, a retail precinct, which many in the community hoped would be built.

Bicheno Investment's plans for the main street of Bicheno.

After receiving a reluctant green light from the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, the state government is now undertaking further consultation with the community, holding two sessions in the town on Monday.

But last week it received an offer from Bicheno Investments, which would save the state government $1.2m.

In exchange for the site at 60a Burgess St being returned to the company, two lots of land, located opposite the town’s police station, would be gifted to the Crown.

It would save the government the cost of the land it had compulsorily acquired, which is estimated to be $1.2m

Health Minister Guy Barnett said the government was aware of the offer.

“The suitability of the Tasman Highway site Ms Cameron has proposed will be carefully reviewed,” Mr Barnett said.

Minister for Health Guy Barnett. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The Burgess Street site was selected as the preferred site following consultation with the community in 2022.

“Further consultation is underway with stakeholders about the location of the new ambulance station.”

Jan Cameron offers $1.2m solution to East Coast ambo stoush

November 10, 3:48pm

The state government has been offered a nifty solution to a political problem after the site it chose for a new ambulance station in Bicheno was slammed as the ‘wrong choice’.

East Coast developer, Bicheno Investments, owned by Kathmandu empire builder Jan Cameron, had grand plans for 60a Burgess Street, which it owned, but the state government compulsorily acquired the lot, believing it would be suitable for a new ambulance station.

Last month the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council reluctantly approved the station, despite councillors believing it was the wrong spot for it.

For Bicheno Investments, its plans for a retail precinct were left in limbo.

But now a possible solution has been suggested.

In a letter sent to the Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Health Minister Guy Barnett this week, Bicheno Investments offered to donate two alternative lots of land to the state government for the ambulance station.

Bicheno Investment's proposal for 60 Burgess Street, Bicheno.

“We believe the combined value of this land is $800,000-plus,” CEO Christine Proctor said in the letter.

“[We propose] the compulsorily acquired site, 60a Burgess Street, Bicheno, is to be returned to Bicheno Investments.

“The effect of this would be to save the Crown the cost to compensate for the compulsory acquisition of part of 60a Burgess Street. We estimate this compensation will exceed $1.2m.”

The alternative sites, which are owned by Ms Cameron, are located on the corner of Tasman Highway and Jetty Road.

28/02/2017: Chan Wai-Chan, Jan Cameron & Rodd Peters at milk powder company, Bellamys, EGM in Melbourne. Stuart McEvoy for the Australian.

Ms Proctor said it would provide immediate access to the Tasman Highway in a central location and the land would not require demolition works.

She said it was also a strategic site because it’s located opposite the police station.

“This offer is made in good faith and is an effort to resolve this for all parties and in the best interests of Bicheno,” Ms Proctor said in the letter.

The company has offered to meet with the Premier and Health Minister to discuss the possibility of a deal.

The company’s proposed retail precinct included 14 affordable apartments for local residents and seasonal staff.