Epping and Broadmeadows ambulance stations are set to be rebuilt to help paramedics better respond to emergencies.
Acting Premier James Merlino and Ambulance Services Minister Jill Hennessy visited the Broadmeadows branch on Friday morning to announce the upgrades.
The state government will spend $1.8 million upgrading the Broadmeadows branch, while Epping station will receive a $1.74 million rebuild.
Work on the design for the stations is expected to start in the coming months, with the new state-of-the-art stations expected to be completed in 2018.
Mr Merlino said the Broadmeadows branch was 48 years old and was “no longer fit for purpose”.
About 70 paramedics works at the branch, responding to more than 1300 call-outs each month, making it one of the busiest stations in metropolitan Melbourne.
Mr Merlino said there was a need to upgrade the station to meet the healthcare needs of Melbourne’s north.
In Epping, paramedics have outgrown the 25-year-old station on McDonalds Road, which was originally funded by the community.
Three teams of paramedics are based at the branch, which responds to more than 500 call-outs each month.
Both stations will feature a five-bay ambulance garage, six bedrooms, rest and recline areas, training rooms and a kitchen once rebuilt.
Ms Hennessy said the government was investing in the future so ambulances arrive at medical emergencies sooner.
“We know we need to invest now to meet the needs of rapidly growing areas such as Epping- and we’re getting it done,” she said.
