ESA Commissioner Wayne Phillips at the Molonglo station construction site. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Construction of Canberra largest emergency services station in Duffy is on track, on budget and due to be completed by mid-2026.
The $65 million multi-building Molonglo Emergency Services Station will house fire and ambulance services.
Although technically in Duffy, the Cotter Road facility is strategically positioned adjacent to Wright and Coombs so it can serve southern Canberra and the growing Molonglo Valley, which is projected to have 70,000 residents by 2050.
Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Wayne Phillips said the Molonglo Emergency Services Station would be part of a new emergency services network that would have Canberra covered.
“With Acton recently opening, Casey in the pipeline, we’ve got a really good tapestry of emergency response right across the ACT that I’m really looking forward to,” he said.
Mr Phillips said it was important to get ahead of Molonglo’s growing population and put the ESA in a great position to serve the area.
Concrete slabs have been poured, and installation of in-ground services and structural steel framing is underway. Precast wall panels have been installed in the fire truck and ambulance bay areas within the facility.
The fully electric, five-star Green Star designed station includes two operational centres, live-in facilities and a hub for specialty equipment. It will include charging facilities for electric vehicles.
The vehicle bays are taking shape.
Given its location close to the urban fringe, the new station will be equipped to deal with the challenges the nearby bush environment will present.
This includes the procurement of a 4×4 all-terrain ambulance vehicle to reach remote locations, as well as an I-Zone appliance to provide a Compressed Air Foam (CAF) blanket on structures and critical infrastructure during bush and grass fires.
“Having those facilities out here will just enhance our capabilities so much and protect Canberra even more,” Mr Phillips said.
ESA will be growing its numbers to staff the station, with new firefighting and paramedic ambulance graduates coming online to bolster current members who will be moving to Molonglo next year.
“We’ll fill the roster,” Mr Phillips said.
A bird’s eye view of the station so far. Photo: ACT Government.
He said the new station would mean a safer community in Molonglo.
“It’s good for the local community knowing that there’s a fire station and an ambulance station right in their neighbourhood, which should give them confidence about the level of safety,” Mr Phillips said.
Infrastructure Canberra Director-General Gillian Geraghty said much had been learnt from the construction of the Acton station, which was completed in June and is now operational.*
“The progress has been quite outstanding with no safety incidents so far, the team’s doing a really great job in ensuring that we’re delivering this in a safe and well way,” she said.
The station is due to be completed in mid-2026, followed by a six-month commissioning period.
Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Marisa Paterson said the progress of the new station since last December’s sod turning was pleasing.
“The site has come a long way in the past nine months, and you can see the progress that has occurred in that time,” Ms Paterson said.
“We know the Molonglo Valley is going to be one of our city’s biggest growth areas in the next 20 or 30 years, so it’s important we provide the infrastructure and services to support that.”
But residents will need to get used to more sirens and flashing lights when the station opens after a six-week commissioning period.
Mr Phillips said the sirens and the lights protected not just the responding ESA crews but also other road users as well.
He asked the public to be patient, no matter what time it may be.
“Move out of the way of that responding fire truck or ambulance because at the other end of that is somebody like you and me who really needs that paramedic or firefighter,” he said.
And an emergency at 3 am was just as important as one at 3 in the afternoon, Mr Phillips said.
*It was originally reported that Acton station would be operational by the end of the year. This was incorrect.
