Kingscliff’s New Ambulance Station Officially Opens

By Jeff Gibbs

The Northern Rivers region is set to benefit from a major enhancement in emergency care services with the official opening of the new Kingscliff Ambulance Station.

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal, MLC, joined NSW Ambulance paramedics, local families, and community members to mark this important milestone.

Situated on the new Tweed Valley Hospital campus, the state-of-the-art, two-level ambulance station replaces the 65-year-old facility on Marine Parade, Kingscliff. The modern station boasts eight internal parking bays, including an internal wash bay, administrative and office areas, staff rest facilities, a gym, logistics and storage areas, and on-site parking.

This station is a key part of the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program, which is delivering 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations. This initiative represents the largest infrastructure investment in NSW Ambulance’s nearly 130-year history.

Along with the new $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital, the station is a cornerstone in the expansive growth of health services designed to meet the needs of the Tweed-Byron region’s growing and ageing population.

Tweed residents are further supported by the Tweed Urgent Care Service, currently available five days a week, from 8am to 4pm, providing scheduled visits to residential aged care facilities. The service is set to expand to seven days a week, offering care to people of all ages in the near future.

Extended Care Paramedics, as part of the multidisciplinary urgent care team, deliver critical support to residents with urgent but non-life-threatening medical conditions in the comfort of their homes.

Quotes:

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:
“Kingscliff’s new ambulance station offers our local paramedics a top-tier base with the latest facilities and equipment, ensuring they can meet the community’s emergency care needs now and in the future. The NSW Government remains committed to investing in health infrastructure to improve health outcomes for rural and regional communities.”

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal, MLC:
“This new station is a testament to the NSW Government’s dedication to providing first-class emergency services in regional NSW. It ensures our local paramedics are well-equipped to meet the growing demand for emergency care in this region.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr. Dominic Morgan:
“The Kingscliff Ambulance Station is a cutting-edge facility that equips our highly skilled paramedics with the resources they need. This new station will continue to deliver high-quality emergency care to the Northern Rivers communities, now and in the future. We are thrilled to have this station operational for our local crews and the communities they serve.”

For more local Kingscliff news, click here.

Pet Project: Hi-Tech Dog Mannequin Enhances Training for TAFE NSW Kingscliff Students

A cutting-edge and eerily lifelike canine mannequin is providing aspiring veterinary nurses at TAFE NSW Kingscliff with invaluable hands-on experience. The newly arrived mannequin, imported from the US and affectionately named Barbara, is helping animal studies and veterinary nursing students practice essential clinical skills such as intubation, intravenous catheterization, venipuncture, CPR, bandaging, and ear cleaning.

TAFE NSW Dog Mannequin Barabara

Gemma Holland, an animal studies teacher at TAFE NSW Kingscliff and a local veterinarian, highlighted the benefits of using the mannequin in training. “Veterinary simulation mannequins like Barbara allow students to practice and refine their skills without the pressure and risk of working on live animals. This is especially useful in TAFE NSW Animal Care courses, including the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, where students must demonstrate practical skills,” Ms. Holland said. “Simulators provide a realistic model for students to familiarize themselves with processes and procedures before they undertake these tasks on real animals during work placements.”

Barbara is equipped with features such as veins, imitation blood, earwax, and feedback monitors that indicate proper technique. For example, a green light signals that students are performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) correctly. “Students are rarely involved in emergencies during work placements, so this training allows them to practice first aid and CPR in a controlled environment before facing real-life emergencies,” Ms. Holland added.

The arrival of the mannequin comes at a crucial time for veterinary nursing students. With more pets than people in Australia and a growing demand for veterinary services, Jobs and Skills Australia predicts that the number of vet nursing jobs will surge to 17,800 by 2026.

Phoebe Viscardi, a 38-year-old student at TAFE NSW Kingscliff, recently transitioned from a career in aged care to veterinary nursing. She balances her studies in the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing with working as a veterinary nurse. Phoebe emphasized the value of the practical training she has received, saying, “Practicing on a canine mannequin closely mimics working on a real animal. You simply can’t gain the same skills working on a stuffed animal. Barbara is lifelike and even has joints that anatomically resemble a real dog. I enjoy how hands-on the course is, and the equipment at TAFE NSW Kingscliff is world-class.”

This innovative training tool is helping to prepare students for the demands of the veterinary profession, ensuring they are confident and capable in their newfound careers.

Do You Support an Extension to the Lease of the Kingscliff Temporary Housing Village?

Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to extend the lease on parkland at Kingscliff to accommodate the temporary housing pod for an additional six months. The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has requested a six-month extension to the temporary village lease at Elrond Drive, Kingscliff, extending it to December 2025.

The extension would provide additional time for the RA and Northern Rivers Housing (NRH) to support residents into long-term housing and to allow for the decommissioning of the pods during this extension period.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry emphasised the importance of this extension, stating, “There are currently more than 450 households living in 11 temporary housing sites across the region, and a significant waitlist of people still seeking housing support.”

“Kingscliff’s temporary housing village has 31 self-contained housing units which provide a safe and secure home to more than 60 people affected by the 2022 floods. Some residents are waiting for their homes to be rebuilt, while others need to find an affordable rental property,” Cr Cherry added.

While the Council supports this request for a six-month extension, it seeks input from local residents to understand their views on the request before making a final decision.

Council owns the land at 99 Elrond Drive, where the Kingscliff temporary housing village is located. In June 2022, Council entered into a three-year lease of the property with Resilience NSW, now known as the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). The lease was established for the construction, maintenance, and operation of temporary housing and is set to expire on 16 June 2025.

The temporary housing villages were originally intended to provide up to two years of accommodation for displaced households as a result of the 2022 floods, with the remaining lease period allocated for site restoration. However, due to widespread housing stress and contractor shortages in the region, residents of the temporary housing village face significant obstacles to returning home or securing alternative stable housing.

In November 2023, Council received a request from the NSW RA to extend the lease for an additional two years until June 2027. Following this request, a meeting was hosted by the NSW RA and Council with neighbouring residents in February 2024. During this meeting, the NSW RA indicated the request to extend the lease for two more years (until 2027) had been withdrawn.

In May 2024, Council received a new request from the NSW RA to extend the lease for an additional six months until 31 December 2025. At Council’s meeting on 16 May, it was resolved to agree to this extension, subject to public notification and consultation with residents of the pod village and the wider community.

Additionally, it was resolved to consult with the community to determine the future use of the space. This consultation will take place separately before the end of the lease in December next year.

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on the extension of the lease before 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 July 2024. Council will consider all submissions before deciding whether to proceed with the extension.

Have your say online at yoursaytweed.com.au/99ElrondDrive, email tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au, or write to the General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484.

For more local Kingscliff news, click here.