The NSW government has moved to address what paramedics describe as a decade of chronic under-resourcing in the Hunter region, securing a site for a new ambulance station at North Rothbury and promising four others.
Long-Awaited Stations Finally Get Green Light
On Tuesday, the state confirmed the location for the new 24/7 station on Winepress Road in North Rothbury, a site first identified under the previous government. This station is part of a broader pledge to build five new facilities across the region, with others slated for Gateshead, Caves Beach, Edgeworth, and East Maitland.
The announcement is tied to a state-wide push to recruit 500 new paramedics, with 62 of those positions earmarked specifically for the Hunter. The infrastructure forms part of a $615.5 million ambulance improvement program across NSW.
Health Minister Ryan Park stated the North Rothbury station would support local crews in providing the best emergency and mobile medical care well into the future. However, the health department has not yet confirmed a construction timeline, noting the project must now move through design and planning approvals.
Paramedics Welcome News But Highlight Unfulfilled Promises
While the commitment was welcomed, frontline workers were quick to point out that the region is still waiting on stations promised years ago. Australian Paramedics Association secretary Brendan Mcilveen, a working Hunter paramedic, said the announcement "should have been delivered 10 years ago."
"This announcement sits against the backdrop of multiple unresolved commitments," Mr Mcilveen told the Newcastle Herald. "The Hunter region has been promised stations at Gateshead, Caves Beach, Edgeworth and East Maitland, yet none of these sites have progressed to construction."
He revealed that in some cases, even land acquisition is still awaiting final approval from the Premier's Office. Paramedics at Gateshead, for instance, continue to operate from a temporary facility at Sandgate.
Rising Demand Driven by Population Boom
The push for new infrastructure comes as the Lower Hunter experiences sustained population growth, placing immense pressure on existing emergency services. Cessnock was the fastest-growing city outside of Sydney in 2024, with similar surges in Lake Macquarie and Maitland.
Data underscores the increasing demand:
- Emergency calls for ambulance help have trended upwards since 2010, increasing by more than half in the past five years.
- In the Lower Hunter, the number of incidents requiring a paramedic response rose from 25.4 per quarter in June 2020 to 33.5 in the same period this year.
- While emergency calls slightly decreased to just under 5000 in the quarter to June, triple-zero calls increased by over 8 per cent to 4653.
Mr Mcilveen said crews are frequently working extended shifts and missing meal breaks to cope. The union has long argued that regional stations are outdated, at capacity, or deteriorating.
Once built, the North Rothbury station is expected to significantly improve emergency coverage for Branxton, Greta, and Rothbury, areas that have previously relied on NSW Fire & Rescue as first responders. It will also ease pressure on surrounding stations in Rutherford, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, and Singleton.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the government was working to ensure essential services keep pace with growth. "It means parents can feel safer raising their families here, aging residents can stay in their homes longer and locals can trust that quality health care is right around the corner," she said.
While paramedics see the North Rothbury site progress as a step forward, their message to the government is clear: announcements must now be followed by firm timelines and delivery for all promised stations to truly solve a decade of chronic need.
