New Ambulance Stations Open at Birmingham Gardens and Rutherford

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Two new state of the art ambulance stations have been opened at Rutherford and Birmingham Gardens on Tuesday. 

They will replace ageing facilities in the area and expand operations, with additional resources for training and logistics. 

NSW Ambulance's, Jordan Emery, says the station at Birmingham Gardens means more paramedics for the community.

"We have 24 paramedics working out of here on a full time basis, and that means we operate two ambulance day shift  crews, an afternoon shift crew, and a night shift crew."

"They work in a network right across Newcastle, with a whole lot of other resources and neighboring stations to provide the most timely ambulance response to the community." 

Mr Martin said local paramedics were involved in designing the stations, which will better serve the needs of the community.

“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,” Mr Martin said.

The new purpose built stations feature: 

• Internal parking for up to seven emergency ambulance vehicles
• Administration and office areas'
• Staff amenities
• Multi-purpose meeting & training room
• Logistics and storage areas
• Wash bays
• Staff parking

In addition, the new station at Rutherford features an education facility and zone management office area.

NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Clare Lorenzen said the new facilities are crucial services for thousands of 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,” Ms Lorenzen said.

The Birmingham Gardens Facility

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Deputy Director of Clinical Operations NSW Ambulance Jordon Emery, NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Clare Lorenzen, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin, Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery

Clare Lorenzen, and Jordon Emery

Premier Sacks Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack Over Koala Protection Laws

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Catherine Cusack has been sacked from her position by the NSW Premier for crossing the floor over koala protection laws. 

Ms Cusack moved a motion against the government bill on Thursday night, which saw it go down 18-19, arguing it still puts koala habitat at risk. 

Port Stephens MP, Kate Washington has backed the move. 

In response, Premier Gladys Berejiklian removed Ms Cusack from her position.  

"Following her decision today to move a non-Government amendment to a Government bill, I have made the decision to immediately remove Ms Catherine Cusack as a Parliamentary Secretary," Gladys Berejikian said. 

The Local Land Services (LLS) Bill will now be sent to a Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Greens MP Cate Faehrmann MLC.

“It’s abundantly clear that this bill was to be the National Party’s Trojan horse which would have seen decades of work on the government’s primary mechanism to protect koalas discarded and nullify environmental protections on rural land," said Ms Faehrmann.

“Not a single member of the Liberals spoke to this bill when it passed through the lower house. If not for the courage of Catherine Cusack today, the koala would have been sacrificed for the sake of preserving an increasingly fractured Coalition.

“Sending this bill off to an inquiry is the best outcome and what better committee to examine this bill than the one that just wrapped up its landmark inquiry into koala populations,” said Ms Faehrmann.

The Premier and the Deputy Premier said the NSW Government would revert to operations under the former planning policies by the end of the month and in the new year would develop a policy to protect koalas and the interests of farmers.

In a statement Gladys Berejiklian and Nationals Leader, John Barilaro said, "Our farmers deserve certainty and they do not deserve to be held to ransom by a Greens-controlled inquiry." 

Image: News.com.au