February 24th, 2025New ambulance station for Avoca

Ambulance Victoria (AV) has officially opened the doors of its new Avoca Ambulance Branch, providing local crews with state-of-the-art facilities.

AV Grampians Regional Director Steve Doyle in recent days joined Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas MP and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett MP to open the new multi-million-dollar facility (pictured above) on Rowe Street, Avoca.

The new ambulance branch includes a three-bay ambulance garage, two rest and recline areas, relievers’ quarters, training facilities, a fully equipped kitchen, and improved security and car parking.

It is home to a team of seven paramedics supported by two Ambulance Community Officers (ACOs) and has been operational since 23 October 2024.

“The opening of the new branch is a great milestone for the Avoca community,” Mr Doyle said.

“The new facilities are already making a real difference to the ambulance crews who service remote communities throughout the Pyrenees Local Government Area (LGA) and beyond.

“It has been custom-built with the modern and safe facilities and support paramedics and first responders need to do their job, responding to life-threatening emergencies and saving lives.

“The location of the new branch on Rowe Street will ensure easy access to major highways and town services such as shops, education, aged care facilities and the recreation reserve.”

Paramedics relocated from their previous premises on 13 Liebig Street. AV will continue to use the previous branch to support paramedic accommodation.

Minister for Ambulance Services Mary-Anne Thomas: “We’re making sure the dedicated local paramedics in Avoca have a modern, safe station to support them in doing what they do best – saving lives and caring for their community.”

Mr Doyle said the bigger facility can better accommodate the crews and training and operational requirements.

“It gives them the space they need since the Avoca ambulance service was upgraded to dual paramedic crews,” Mr Doyle said.

“Avoca also remains supported by a dedicated team of local ACOs who continue to be a valued and critical part of our emergency response in rural and regional Victoria.”

Avoca is a keystone location within the Pyrenees LGA, providing care to communities such as Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Dunolly, Lexton, Learmonth and Maryborough. The team at Avoca attend more than 61 emergency call outs a month.

The branch was funded by the Victorian Government’s Ambulance Victoria Development Program and delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) in partnership with AV, and builder, Bowden Corporation.

In 2023-24, eleven stations were completed: Inglewood, Gisborne, Rochester, Clyde North, Avoca, Paynesville, Oak Park, Yuroke, Langwarrin, Epping and Morwell.

Member for Ripon Martha Haylett: “This new state-of-the-art ambulance station will make sure our paramedics are well rested and taken care of, so they can continue delivering world-class, lifesaving care when and where the Avoca community needs it.”

This story based on an Ambulance Victoria report. Image: Supplied, AV