A NEIGHBOURHOOD station for emergency services in Wagga's northern growth area has been flagged a high priority by residents and businesses alike.
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It comes as Wagga City Council prepares for rapid growth, releasing its 20-year vision for land use and plans to build thousands of additional homes in the established Estella suburb.
Resident Shirley Johnstone has watched the "incredible growth" over the past 11 years. But, with no signs of slowing down, she said there needs to be an emergency services presence.
Her concern is that people might be left vulnerable, which is not an option with Charles Sturt University, two schools and a growing number of residents.
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"If the plan is to open up all this land so we eventually get to over 6000 [homes] ... I don't see a problem, if they put roads, infrastructure and services in before they start building," she said.
Although a shopping centre is outside the council's control, Mrs Johnstone said they should have influence to bring a fire brigade, police and ambulance station to the neighbourhood.
Council's regional activation director Michael Keys agreed that emergency services will be "a critical part" of any future growth in the area, but he said detailed planning will happen in the long-term.
"At this stage, we are certainly working in conjunction with the Department of Planning and government agencies to make them aware of where the growth is occurring and we will continue to keep them up-to-date on that," he said.
In the long-term, Mr Keys said the council will begin detailed plans to outline where any future emergency services could be located and how they could be provided as part of the northern growth structure plan.
A proposed emergency services super-site at Boorooma has been a talking point in the past after the council set aside nine hectares of land near the corner of the Olympic Highway and Coolamon Road.
Bomen has also been flagged as a possible location. However, Mr Keys said no site has been set in stone.
"Certainly more detailed discussions are needed to provide these services in the right locations," he said.
Bomen's Truck Art owner Terry Gibbs said it will be helpful to have an emergency services station at Bomen or surrounds as the area continues to expand.
"The more you think about it, we have abattoirs, the oil refinery and a few other big businesses out here," he said.
"If something were to go wrong or badly one day, it certainly would be helpful. It is probably the most likely of places that something major could happen due to the nature of those type of businesses.