Kingscliff’s New Ambulance Station Offcially Opens

The Northern Rivers region is set to beneft from a major enhancement in emergency care services with the offcial 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-theart, 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 offce 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 Reconfguration (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 TweedByron region’s growing and ageing population.

Tweed residents are further supported by the Tweed Urgent Care Service, currently available fve 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 frst-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.”

Mullumbimby’s Future Water Supply Secured with Regional Network Connection

By Robert Heyward

The future of Mullumbimby’s water supply has been secured, with Byron Shire Council approving a permanent, full connection to the regional water network managed by Rous County Council.

This decision ensures that Mullumbimby’s water will be sourced from the same regional supply that currently serves the rest of Byron Shire, as well as the communities of Ballina, Lismore, and Casino.

Phil Holloway, Byron Shire Council’s Director of Infrastructure

Services, explained that the decision to connect to the regional water supply was strongly recommended by both water management consultants and Council staff, following comprehensive environmental, economic, and social assessments.

“The consultant’s report highlighted that Mullumbimby’s water demand is expected to rise due to ongoing development and population growth. The current local supply would be insuffcient to meet future demand, likely leading to more frequent and severe water restrictions,” Mr. Holloway said.

“Transitioning to the regional supply offers several advantages over maintaining the local supply in Mullumbimby. These include a reduced environmental impact, lower ongoing energy consumption, and minimized infrastructure costs, ultimately providing better value for ratepayers.”

Mullumbimby’s current water supply is drawn from the Lavertys Gap weir, constructed in the 1920s, and fows through an open channel to the Mullumbimby Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which was built in 1940.

However, the existing system has been deemed incapable of reliably meeting demand beyond 2027.

During the Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, 15 August, Council considered two main options for Mullumbimby: connecting to the regional network or continuing to rely on Lavertys Gap, supplemented by a 200ML off-stream storage dam and a new water treatment plant.

Updated cost estimates for the 30-year total construction and operation of each option revealed that connecting to the regional network would cost approximately $90 million, while the alternative off-stream storage option would require an investment of around $128 million.

The exact timeline for Mullumbimby’s connection to the regional network has yet to be determined. In the meantime, minor upgrades will be carried out at the Mullumbimby WTP.

The Lavertys Gap weir and its channel are listed on the NSW State Heritage Register, and the Mullumbimby WTP holds local heritage signifcance. The

Council will explore long-term management options for these structures following their decommissioning.

At Thursday’s meeting, Councillors also resolved to continue supplying reticulated drinking water to properties currently connected to the main line between the Mullumbimby WTP and the Azalea Street reservoir.

Additionally, the Council voted to retain the extraction licence at Lavertys Gap reservoir to preserve future use options for the resource.