Wilmot Township site region’s choice for new paramedics headquarters

WILMOT TOWNSHIP — Waterloo Region’s new paramedic services headquarters and fleet centre are expected to be built on region-owned land in Wilmot Township, on the outskirts of west Waterloo.

“We do prefer to locate facilities on land we already own,” senior project manager Kari Feldmann told a regional committee meeting on Tuesday.

He presented the preferred site for the new headquarters at 1001 Erb’s Rd., where the region’s emergency services training and research complex is located.

Building on land already owned by the region saves money and time. Feldmann said finding a suitably-sized piece of land that’s privately owned would take one to two years.

“There is some urgency to provide additional indoor ambulance storage,” he said.

The updated master plan approved in principle last October identified an immediate need to build additional storage, crew and administrative space to augment the Maple Grove Road facility in Cambridge, which is operating beyond capacity. The new headquarters and fleet centre will relieve that overcrowding and accommodate anticipated growth for at least 15 years.

The cost of the new building is expected to be $18 million. The approved paramedic services capital budget and forecast includes $3 million this year, $12 million in 2018 and $3 million in 2019 for the project.

An overall building size of 40,000 to 43,000 square feet, including a garage of at least 23,000 square feet, is recommended.

Staff reviewed other possible locations for the facility, including region-owned lands and available commercial and industrial real estate, but none of the alternative sites passed the screening criteria.

“It seems like a logical location,” said Coun. Tom Galloway.

However, he asked if it is necessary to have a separate building: “Could we not save some dollars by adjoining it to the existing building?”

Feldmann said there is the opportunity for sharing training and meeting space.

“These two facilities will be able to compliment each other,” he said.

The plan was approved at the community services committee on Tuesday, but final approval will be needed at the next council meeting.

Once approved, there will be a public consultation to present preliminary site plans and get feedback to consider during the design process.