Plans to build a first responders campus that would house Simcoe County paramedics, Barrie police and firefighters is starting to take shape.
The city and Simcoe County have been working on the plan since 2015. If built, Barrie police would get a new headquarters, which has been on the forces radar since 2008.
It would also house a fire station and a hub for paramedics that would include multiple ambulance bays and storage for large equipment and medical supplies.
"Partners are talking at the table trying to identify what their needs are and what has to be in scope," Andrew Robert, chief paramedic. “If we work together to build one building we save on design costs, we save on building costs."
Officials are still crunching the numbers, but the facility is expected to cost more than $80 million. Right now planners are working on a preliminary design.
The city is also securing a location and at this point won't say where the campus could be built.
For paramedics this fits into their long-term plans for the Barrie, Innisfil and Springwater areas. The hub would replace existing stations and the paramedics themselves would be posted at six smaller buildings throughout the area.
“Covering that land mass for three stations right now is not optimal for response times. We want to make sure we will be in the right spot at the right time and to provide optimal care.”
The city and county will get a better look at the plan in June. The facility could be ready by 2019 or 2020.
