Mr Ward moved a General Business Notice of Motion in the Legislative Assembly outlining the case for the request.

“With a number of retirement villages and an ageing population, closer proximity to an ambulance service in the Berry would provide an important lifesaving service,” he said.

“And with the Berry bypass soon to commence, now is the perfect opportunity to plan for an appropriate location for an ambulance station.

“My first and foremost priority will always be my electorate and I intend on taking the fight up to the government and making the case about why providing an ambulance station in Berry is important.

“The ambulance officers and staff across the Kiama electorate do an outstanding job and show incredible commitment to patients in our community.

“When talking with them, they tell me how an ambulance station in Berry would improve response times and the overall delivery of emergency health care,” he said.

“We have seen a record spend in health infrastructure across our region since coming to office in 2011 including the new cancer care services at Wollongong and Shoalhaven, the PET scanner at Wollongong Hospital, upgrades to elective surgery and the emergency department at Wollongong Hospital and more parking being delivered or constructed at both the Wollongong and Shoalhaven campuses.