Station support

The lead candidates in Saturday’s election both stopped short of promising to deliver an ambulance station, but said they would campaign Ambulance NSW and the Department of Health to establish the service.

Tocumwal is serviced from Fire & Rescue NSW first responders and ambulances in Finley, Jerilderie, Berrigan and in some cases Cobram.

The issue has been ongoing in Tocumwal for more than 20 years, however in 2018 the Ambulance for Tocumwal Steering Committee was set up to garner government and local support.

Member for Murray and Nationals candidate Mr Evans said he’s still ‘‘fully behind’’ an ambulance and that he is working with the committee, but he has not been able to get significant progress since being elected in October 2017.

‘‘The tough part is to deliver the ambulance, but we certainly will give it a red hot go.

‘‘I know there’s a lot of push back from the health ministry, so I don’t underestimate the size of that task. It’s going to be tough but it needs to happen and I’ll work towards making sure it happens,’’ Mr Evans said.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Mrs Dalton said with the Lions Club willing to donate land at the old Adam St bowls club and the project having community support, the town deserves the station.

‘‘They have the land and community support so I think Tocumwal should have an ambulance station given their population is increasing and there are a decent number of tourists. The NSW government centralised some ambulances to Wagga as a promise in the 2017 by-election so they need to remember there are smaller towns needing services.

‘‘I will do my very best to deliver an ambulance station to Tocumwal.

‘‘Water and health are the two biggest issues at this election, so the Tocumwal ambulance station is high on my list for health,’’ Mrs Dalton said.

According to Mrs Dalton 12 ambulances were recently relocated from small country towns to Wagga Wagga.

Ambulance for Tocumwal Steering Committee has argued population growth, pressure on first responders, waiting times, an ageing population and busy tourist periods are reasons for needing a service.

Committee chair Anne Pyle said an ambulance station would service the town much better than the current system.

‘‘Ambulance NSW cannot continue to rely on the goodwill of first responders.

‘‘Here in the Berrigan Shire the population shows no sign of decreasing.

‘‘Aside from tourism and lifestyle population impacts that Tocumwal now experiences, the data shows our shire having more than the state average of male and female premature deaths, as well as deaths from cancer and heart disease.

‘‘We have four times the number of deaths from road accidents and twice the number of deaths from suicide. Last year the committee made a submission to the Senate inquiry into the mental health of first responders. The report tabled last month confirms that first responder services as they currently exist are unsustainable.

‘‘The Senate inquiry submissions and recommendations verify the current situation in Berrigan Shire and Tocumwal is part of a bigger state and federal matter.’’

Ms Pyle said the issue has been going on for too long.

‘‘The committee obtained 2000 signatures during the 2018 Easter period alone, for a petition, requesting a full ambulance service for Tocumwal.

‘‘In October Austin Evans tabled it in NSW Parliament. Many visitors and local people who signed the petition were shocked that Toc. doesn’t have its own service,’’ Ms Pyle said.