The new Cootamundra Ambulance Station expected to start operation next year will be the first in NSW to have a photovoltaic solar energy system, the member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said on Wednesday.
Ms Cooke was speaking after turning the first sod on the site of the new station, at the rear of Cootamundra Hospital.
Construction will be by Sydney-based company, the Patterson Building Group.
It is understood some sub-contracting will be available to local companies.
The $5-6 million building is expected to be completed around this time next year, followed by a fit-out and operational commissioning phase prior to the commencement of operations.
Ms Cooke said the Cootamundra station will be part of a pilot photovoltaic solar energy trial program with two other stations around the state to gather data on the return on investment in solar panels.
The facility is part of the $122 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program by the NSW Government.
The station will internal parking for up to four emergency ambulance vehicles, administration and office areas, staff amenities, relief accommodation and other facilities.
"This facility has been designed with the input from our local paramedics, so it's tailor made for this community," Ms Cooke said.
"It's a station that will cater to the future medical needs of Cootamundra and is part of the biggest upgrade of rural and regional NSW Ambulance infrastructure in the history of the service."
"There has been a fantastic partnership between Health Infrastructure, NSW Ambulance, the Murrumbidgee Local Health District along with the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council to make this project happen.
"Out of 24 new or upgraded Ambulance stations in the state, seven are in the Cootamundra electorate.
"The NSW Government is sending a clear message that it is investing in the health of regional communities."
The new building will replace the current station in Parker Street, nearly 60 years old, which cannot accommodate the new generation of ambulances too high to fit through the doors.
The Patterson Building Group has recently built new ambulance stations in Bungendore and Goulburn.
To date, 24 upgraded, rebuilt or new regional and rural ambulance stations have been announced across NSW, including completed stations at Coolamon, Ardlethan, Harden Murrumburrah, Cowra and Grenfell in the Cootamundra electorate.
Last year southern zone ambulance manager Mark Gibbs commented that being co-located with the the hospital would bring Cootamundra's healthcare providers closer together
