Sunshine is now home to the state’s largest ambulance station.
The new $1.5 million Sunshine branch officially opened for business on Sunday and is the largest physical station in metropolitan Melbourne.
The opening of the branch comes four years after Sunshine ambulance employees first campaigned for a new base due to concerns about sub-standard facilities and safety issues with the then 36-year-old site.
Premier Daniel Andrews, who opened the new facility alongside Sunshine and MICA 3 paramedics and their families, thanked staff for their service.
The new purpose built branch will allow paramedics to handle more than 900 call-outs each month, with up to 40 paramedics working from the site.
Mr Andrews said paramedics were heavily involved in planning the new station.
“The old Sunshine branch was unsafe and put our paramedics at risk – I’m proud we stood alongside Sunshine paramedics and fought for this much needed upgrade to occur,” he said.
Brimbank paramedic Morgan McCarthy said the former station was old and dilapidated, “and not functional in the way it needed to be.”
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said Sunshine residents could now have the confidence they would get the treatment and care they needed, “when they needed it”.