Two new Hunter ambulance stations have been officially opened, which the NSW government says will help the emergency agency better serve the needs of the community.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Natasha Maclaren-Jones and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin declared the new paramedic bases at Birmingham Gardens and Rutherford open on Tuesday.
The event was an official plaque unveiling at Birmingham Gardens, which has been operational for about six months.
NSW Ambulance deputy director of clinical operations Chief Superintendent Jordan Emery said the new station was "state-of-the-art" and "purpose-built".
"It allows us to deploy more paramedics - we've seen an enhancement of paramedics at Birmingham Gardens since we've opened this new station," he said.
"We've seen a huge boost in morale here at Birmingham Gardens. We know that paramedics working in proper workplaces that are fit-for-purpose really impacts on their sense of happiness about being at work.
"The old station we had was very limited in terms of the facilities we had available there, and the potential for that to grow into the future."
The new stations feature internal parking for up to seven ambulance vehicles, administration and office areas, staff amenities, a multi-purpose meeting and training room, logistics and storage areas, wash bays and staff parking.
The Rutherford station also has an education facility and a zone management office area.
NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Clare Lorenzen said the facilities would be crucial for thousands of Hunter residents.
"This project is an important step in the delivery of high-quality mobile emergency care to the people of Birmingham Gardens, Rutherford and surrounding areas," she said.
The stations were built as part of the first stage of the state government's $132 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration program.
Upgrades, rebuilds or entirely new ambulance stations are being constructed at 24 locations across the state as part of stage one.
Mr Martin said Hunter paramedics were involved in designing the two stations, which meant they would better serve the needs of their local areas.
"The community can be assured that NSW Ambulance is committed to providing the best out-of-hospital clinical care to all patients across the region and throughout the state, even at times of high demand," he said.
Ms Maclaren-Jones said the stations were "a fine example of how the NSW government is continuing its promise to deliver the most up-to-date equipment and facilities to keep staff and our communities as safe as possible".
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery thanked Health Minister Brad Hazzard - she said he had worked closely with her office to identify the most appropriate design and site for the Birmingham Gardens station.
"The new ambulance station is a very welcome piece of infrastructure for the Wallsend electorate," she said.
"The old facility had well and truly reached its end date, being 55 years old, and the new facility is state-of-the-art. It's great to see another piece of vital infrastructure being delivered in the Wallsend electorate."
The government says it is creating 180 new ambulance staff jobs in NSW this financial year - the third stage of a commitment in 2018 to put on 750 extra positions in the service over four years.
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