General News
25 November, 2025
Left waiting: ambulance station build date delay
DELAYS in Ambulance Victoria starting work on an ambulance station in Wedderburn have been taken to the Ombudsman.
Darryl Arnott says Ambulance Victoria has refused to give Wedderburn Development Association reasons for the promised station still sitting on the drawing board.
“Communication to Ambulance Victoria through the Wedderburn Development Association still has not had a response from Ambulance Victoria,” said Mr Arnott.
“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.”
Loddon Shire backed the project more than two years ago when it agreed a section of land in Wilson Street earmarked for a future aged care facility could be used by Ambulance Victoria.
Mr Arnott said there were community concerns that the land agreement had still to be completed and the new station “could now be an election promise” ahead of next November’s state poll.
He said that the last few years the town’s CERT team had experienced an increased call out rate that exceeded the need for a permanent ambulance station.
“This needs to be sorted out,” Mr Arnott told the Ombudsman.
Ambulance Victoria’s Loddon Mallee director regional and clinical operations Matt McCrohan said: “Ambulance Victoria continues to work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the current and future infrastructure needs of our service are met, including Wedderburn.
“We are committed to providing best care for patients across Victoria and supporting our people, including our vital ambulance community officers who are so valuable to the communities they serve.
Council first set aside the land in 2016 as Lions developed plans for a proposed aged care facility.
In 2023, an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said: “We aim to provide our patients with the best care, every time, and as communities like Wedderburn grow, it is important we grow with them.
“Ambulance Victoria is continuing discussions with Loddon Shire Council and the Wedderburn community to identify a preferred site for a new ambulance branch. We hope to have identified a location by mid-2024,” the spokesperson said.
Ambulance Victoria said:
“New branches are custom-built with the modern and safe facilities paramedics need to do their job and respond to life-threatening cases in the community. They also enhance safety for our paramedics with secure parking.”
Mr Arnott this week said he had also raised community concerns over new station delays with members of Parliament.
The Loddon Shire’s only permanent ambulance station is in Inglewood.
A new building was completed in 2023 and the original station, built through community funderaising demolished.
Ambulance CERT teams are based in Wedderburn and Boort.
Read More: Wedderburn