New fire and ambulance station announced for Acton

The $45 million station on the corner of Parkes Way and Clunnies Ross Street is expected to become the busiest location for both Canberra emergency services.

The new station will service Canberra city and the inner north and is expected to be operational in the 2022-23 financial year.

Paramedics and fire fighters will be provided with accommodation at the facility to support the growing demand for their services.

The station will support two ambulance services and fire and rescue crews and two appliances at all times, with capacity for an extra appliance or support vehicle if required.

Minister for Emergency Services Mick Gentleman said Canberra operators already respond with some of the quickest times in the country.

"This major investment in infrastructure will ensure our paramedics and firefighters are well equipped to support the Canberra community when they need it most," Mr Gentleman said in a statement.

"The new city station is being designed and constructed to provide flexibility in the number of crews and appliances that the station can accommodate on a 24/7 basis to maintain service delivery and support to the community."

The statement said the Acton station was being constructed as part of the ACT government's COVID-19 jobs and economic recovery plan.

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It said the works would support local jobs at a time when the city needed them most.

Applications for the next cohort of ACT firefighters will open before the end of August, with the private recruitment firm yet to release a date.

The 99 extra service men and women will swell the firefighting cohort in the ACT from the 339 currently funded to 438 by 2024.

The decision was made in June following a years-long battle between Canberra firefighters and the ACT government to invest in the sector.

It followed industrial action by firefighters, in which they turned down a pay rise in protest of alleged under staffing.

Skills maintenance and training were also included in the agreement with firefighters, who will have access to both mental and physical health support, including access to personal trainers.

Construction of the Acton facility has been scheduled to begin in the second half of the 2021-2022 financial year.