St John Ambulance is raising funds for a new station to provide medical cover popular holiday destinations.
The current station in Hahei is a residential property which has been leased for the last few years but is now on the market, forcing the town’s volunteers to find a new home.
Hahei station manager Penne Clayton said St John has operated in the area for nine years and was previously based at the town’s fire station.
“The ambulance was stored with the fire service, but they have too much gear and we couldn’t fit,” Ms Clayton said.
Mercury Bay St John area committee chairman Richard Vetter said he is in discussions with the Thames-Coromandel District Council to lease a section of land.
Mercury Bay area manager for the Thames-Coromandel District Council Allan Tiplady said a car park on Pa Rd was identified as a good location for the development.
St John would lease the land from the council at $100 a year.
Mr Tiplady said the proposal needs to go to the community board before the land’s use can be changed from a “reserve” to “local purpose use”.
“We don’t want to build the Taj Mahal, we just want something purposeful and efficient,” Mr Vetter said.
The Hahei-based ambulance covers a wide range of popular summer destinations including Cooks Beach, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
Auckland construction worker Arron Gifford holidays at Cooks Beach and said the area needs a reliable ambulance service.
“There’s not much in the way of medical care in the area. The closest ambulance other than Hahei is in Whitianga and Whangamata which is a while away,” Mr Gifford said.
Ms Clayton said the community has been supportive of the “exciting” proposal.
She said it’s hoped the completed building will feature accommodation for ambulance officers who want to work and holiday in Hahei over the summer months.
The goal Ms Clayton is to also develop a drop-in medical centre on the site where doctors can work and play.
A Give-a-Little page has been set up to receive donations and sizeable contributions had been made by members of the Hahei community taking the total raised to $80,000.
It’s a long way from the $250,000 goal the area committee were hoping to have raised by April, but Mr Vetter said the issues they are facing is non-permanent residents being reluctant to give money.
Mr Vetter said he hopes the purpose-built facility will lead the way for ambulance stations in other coastal towns.
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By Andrew Hallberg
Sources:
Richard Vetter // St John Mercury Bay Area Committee Chair // 0274 430 934
Penne Clayton // St John Hahei Ambulance Station Manager // 021 554 442
Arron Gifford // Cooks Beach Holiday Maker // 0274 725 068
Allan Tiplady // Mercury Bay Area Manager, Thames-Coromandel District Council // 027 703 3469
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