The Andrews Labor Government is boosting ambulance resources in Melbourne’s outer north to ensure paramedics have the facilities and support they need to quickly respond to local emergencies and save lives.

Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas today announced that a site has been chosen and a builder appointed to construct the new multi-million-dollar Craigieburn station, so locals can access critical care close to home.

The new station will be on 13 Sustainable Drive in Craigieburn and May Constructions will build the station.

Operating 24 hours a day, the station will feature a four-bay garage for ambulances, four rest and recline areas for hard-working paramedics to recuperate, a fully equipped kitchen and improved security and car parking to make sure paramedics stay safe.

The new station’s location was chosen to allow for easy access to main roads and major sites including schools, shopping precincts and community facilities.

The Craigieburn station will be delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) and is one of 14 stations under construction or about to be built across the state.

The Labor Government has committed more than $249 million since 2015 to upgrade and rebuild ambulance stations and provide better working conditions for paramedics – ensuring lifesaving emergency care is available for all Victorians.

This new station forms part of the Government’s continued investment in Ambulance Victoria, bolstered by an additional $124 million in the Victorian Budget 2022/23 to employ more paramedics, buy new vehicles and get more Victorians the care they need.

Ambulance Victoria recruited 700 paramedics in 2021 – its single largest annual recruitment ever – to help respond to increasing demand.

The Government has expanded its paramedic workforce by more than 56 per cent since 2014 – an increase of more than 2,000 paramedics.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas MP:

“We are making sure paramedics in Craigieburn have the facilities to do what they do best – save lives.”

“This modern and advanced ambulance station will ensure families living in the booming outer northern suburbs receive the best lifesaving emergency care, now and into the future.”

Quote attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence MP:

“This new station is an important investment for our community and means that critical care is just around the corner in the event of an emergency.”