APA zone liaison Darren Rudd, who had long petitioned for an increase to station staff, welcomed the NSW Health Minister’s announcement this week. 

It comes after Mr Rudd last December told The Daily Advertiser staffing levels at the station remained unchanged since the late ‘80s. 

But he said the government’s move to increase the city’s paramedic ranks from 28 to 40, across six months was “fantastic” and would be a relief to the region. 

“It’s been long overdue,” Mr Rudd said. “We’ve campaigned for this without success for a long time.”

The NSW Health Minister and Liberal candidate for Wagga shared the win with city paramedics in what was a “well-received” surprise on Wednesday. 

But Mr Rudd said for some, it was not a “big surprise”, with the Wagga byelection looming. 

In fact the state government’s move came three weeks after The DA revealed a promised 700 additional NSW paramedics were to be sent across the state within four years, but none of the first 200-in-a-year would reach the Riverina.

The news came despite reports staff numbers had not increased in Wagga for almost 40 years. 

Mr Rudd said it did not take a rocket scientist to guess the motive behind the sudden creation of 12 paramedic positions. 

The long-time paramedic said despite the timing, the union now wanted to discuss how new staff would be introduced and what additional support – managers, educational positions and operational implementation – would be provided. 

“The additions will be fantastic,” Mr Rudd said. “We just need to look at logistics moving forward.”

Echoing Mr Rudd, Tumut paramedic John Larter wondered how paramedics would be trained and in the field before February.

“They’ve got a 12,” Mr Larter said. “You couldn’t even recruit them in that time.”

He said if paramedics did not transfer and were not recruited through university, the alternative would be a lengthy process.

The previously outspoken paramedic said the “big picture” involved stations outside the Wagga electorate too. 

It comes after Gundagai paramedic Gary Wilson earlier in August said the region was haemorrhaging staff, resulting in the frequent abandonment of outlying towns. 

As the vice-secretary of the Australian Paramedic Association said on-duty medics, in areas like Junee, Lockart, Gundagai and Tumut, were often called to assist Wagga, leaving their own turf vulnerable and emergency help at least 20 minutes away. 

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