Councillors had before them a report from property manager Rob Addison regarding a proposal to sell about 2000-square metres of council’s land adjacent to George Bass Drive and Tallgums Way to the NSW Ambulance Service.

His recommendation that the sale should go through was moved successfully by Cr Chris Vardon, who asked if Surf Beach Rural Fire Service (RFS) had mentioned the possibility of moving into that area? Mr Anderson then spoke of the possibility of all emergency services moving there.

Cr Vardon would welcome that, it seemed, as the present location of the RFS was totally inappropriate, particularly bearing in mind the number of children in that area.

“The sooner we move them the better,” he said.

Mr Addison said the NSW Ambulance Service wished to construct a new regional office and ambulance station away from its present site and had asked about council’s land at Surf Beach.

It would be a far superior site for emergency response in Batemans Bay residential area, Mr Addison said. It would also allow quicker access to the main transport links.

Earlier in the meeting Mr Anderson said the agreement with Bunnings covering some land in that area was almost ready for signing.