Politics & Council
9 March, 2026
Ambos pull the rug on ‘desert’ station plans
AMBULANCE Victoria has ditched plans for an ambulance station in Wedderburn.
The decision comes less than 12 months after Ripon MP Martha Haylett in Parliament asked Health Minister Mary-Ann Thomas to visit the region where there would be “a new ambulance station in Wedderburn very soon”.
The backtrack has left Loddon Shire Council more than $21,000 out of pocket.
Wedderburn councillor Gavan Holt said Ambulance Victoria’s decision meant Wedderburn remained “in the Sahara Desert of health care”.
The Loddon Herald has been told that Ambulance Victoria “acknowledges that Loddon Shire Council made local planning decisions in anticipation of a possible future land acquisition”.
Loddon Shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald said Ambulance Victoria had approached council in March 2023 to discuss land options for a new station. The CERT team is based out of the former police residence.
Council agreed to hive off part of land in Wilson Street for the new station and did works on the former school site ahead of finalising the sale - surveying, preparation of a planning report seeking subdivision, establishment of a new Coliban Water connection, project management and administrative preparation of property for transfer.
“The cost of this work is in the order of $21,000 excluding council staff time and project management,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Council was last week told Ambulance Victoria had walked away from the project and left the shire more than $20,000 out of pocket.
Wedderburn Development Association members were told at their meeting last Wednesday. President Tammy Martin said the decision was disappointing for the town.
Concerns that Ambulance Victoria would backtrack on its plans intensified last November when association member Darryl Arnott wrote to Ms Haylett and Premier Jacinta Allan.
“Ambulance Victoria and the Loddon Shire all have agreed that an ambulance station is needed. Land has been agreed and a price has also been agreed too,” a frustrated Mr Arnott wrote.
“The commitment of the Loddon shire was to install all of the services on the land that has now been done.
“Yet the purchase of the land that Ambulance Victoria has agreed to is still not completed.
“This needs to be sorted out. We the community have been told that this land was going ahead and the new station would be started. “We the community have been told that it could now be an election promise if this station has been agreed to by Ambulance Victoria and the Loddon shire then it should go ahead.”
Ambulance Victoria on Monday did not answer questions on whether its decision was forced by a tightening budget or whether funds for Wedderburn, believed to be $3.5 million, had been allocated to other building projects.
Questions on Ambulance Victoria’s allocation this financial year for land acquisitions and capital works also went unanswered.
A spokesperson said: “Ambulance Victoria is committed to providing best care for patients across Victoria and supporting our people, including our vital Wedderburn Ambulance Community Officers who are so valuable to the community they serve.
“We continue to work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure AV’s current and future infrastructure requirements are carefully planned and meet community and operational need.
“Wedderburn continues to be supported by our hardworking ambulance community officers and paramedics in Wedderburn, Inglewood, St Arnaud, Charlton, Boort, Donald, Eaglehawk and Bendigo.”
“While there was no formal purchase agreement in place, AV recognises the work undertaken and has reached agreement with council on reasonable costs.
“We value the cooperation and goodwill shown by Loddon Shire Council throughout this process and will continue to work together in support of the Loddon community.”
Shire CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald said proof of costs was being prepared for submission to Ambulance Victoria.
Ms Haylett was contacted for comment.
Read More: Wedderburn