By Aneeka Simonis
PAKENHAM is due to get a second ambulance station, bringing more paramedics to the fast-growing suburb.
The location of the new station is yet to be announced.
Minister for Suburban Development Lily D’Ambrosio said $1.1 million has been allocated to purchase land for the state-of-the-art station.
It was put to Ms D’Ambrosio that vacant land next in Pakenham’s emergency services hub on the Princes Highway would be a suitable site for the town’s second ambulance station.
She did not rule out the option, but said those decisions would be made by Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy.
The site is expected to be identified in the next 12 months, and construction would begin soon after.
Pakenham’s existing ambulance station in Main Street is currently under construction.
The station’s 34 ambos are part way through phase 2 of the $1.4 million relocation project, to upgrade the site in operation since the late 1960s.
The station is serviced by two 24/7 ambulances.
Ambulance Victoria Regional Director Cath Anderson said the new station in Pakenham would improve response times.
In 2015-’16, paramedics got to 62.3 per cent of Code 1 call-outs in under the 15-minute benchmark time period.
Similar response time averages were recorded in 2014-’15.
Five other stations will be built under the $8.5 million Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions (GAIC) fund.
Mernda, Taylors Lakes, Wyndham Vale, Melton and Craigieburn will also get new ambulance stations under the growth funding.
