Construction of Katikati's long awaited new St John Ambulance station will begin early next year thanks to a stellar fund raising effort in the town.

'The Katikati community has now raised the $811,000 required to build the station, which is outstanding,” says Mike Williams, chair of Katikati St John.

An artist's impression of the new St John Ambulance station to be built in Katikati. Photo: Supplied.

'We want to say a very big thank you to the people of Katikati who have so generously donated to this appeal and have made it possible for our town to have a much needed new ambulance station.”

Fund raising began in 2014 and received an early boost with $500,000 from a local person before a $50,000 donation from St John Central.

Through donations from individuals, businesses, families, events and the ‘Buy a Brick' campaign, the community managed to raise the remaining $261,000.

Sue Couper, Kirsty Warden and Inez Cooper of the fund raising committee spear headed the ‘Buy a Brick' campaign, which has raised close to $22,000.

'Local clubs and organisations have held fund raising events, children have donated their pocket money and pensioners part of their income,” says Sue. 'It's been quite humbling how kind people have been.

'Special thanks also goes to Alison Rudd of Eves in Katikati, who has accepted donations and written hundreds of receipts, and also to Bruce McCutcheon, who has been very willing for us to use Eves' offices as a place where people can make donations.”

In October last year, Richard O'Brien, of Rocky Horror fame, and his wife Sabrina staged a Halloween party at Katikati Primary School and generously donated $30,000 to the appeal.

Plans have now been prepared and resource consent for the building, adjacent to the Katikati Fire Station in Sheffield Street, has been granted.

'An invitation to building companies to tender for the project will be issued soon,” says Mike, 'with construction to begin in the New Year. We will be specifying that as many local businesses as possible are involved in the project.”

Taylor Brothers have already cleaned up the building site and given an undertaking to fence the section.

'We will hold a special ‘turning of the first sod' ceremony early next year, to which the public will be invited,” says Mike.

The new station is urgently required as the current station, built around 18 years ago, is too small now that Katikati St John has two ambulances and four full time ambulance officers, supported by up to 20 volunteers.

There is only garaging for one ambulance, which means the other must stay outside. The over-night accommodation for officers on call is no longer adequate, nor are the office, kitchen and training facilities.

When the original station was built, Katikati had a population of around 2500, but today that figure is 4059, and there are another 5000 people in the rural area the brigade also serves as well as a further 2500 at Omokoroa.

The new station will also serve as a civil defence emergency centre and will have room for both ambulances, and possibly the Katikati Red Cross emergency trailer too.

There will be accommodation and locker facilities for staff, a sluice room, storage for medical supplies and linen, a training room and a kitchen.