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WEDDERBURN residents fear they are "back to square one" in their campaign to have an ambulance service delivered for the town.
The Coalition promised it would spend $1.3 million for an ambulance for Wedderburn if re-elected, but lost the November 29 election.
Ambulance Victoria data showed patients in Loddon Shire had to wait more than 15 minutes in a Code 1 emergency between 40 and 50 per cent of the time.
The shire was among the worst six areas in the state for ambulance response times.
Member of the Wedderburn Lions Club Darryl Arnott, who has led the push for an ambulance for the town, said the data added weight to their argument.
"We found, on average, response times were 35.25 minutes over a six month period," he said.
Mr Arnott said he had already sent a letter to the state's new Health Minister Jill Hennessy requesting a meeting about the situation. He also wants to meet with new Ambulance Victoria board members.
Wedderburn residents have to rely on an ambulance from Inglewood and Charlton - both 15 minutes away - or further afield during busy periods. The Inglewood service in the only ambulance based in Loddon Shire.
Mr Arnott said the Coalition's promise could have played a part in their win in Ripon, swaying the votes of those in the Wedderburn district.
"We can take that argument to the new Health Minister and say, 'The people here voted for that idea'," he said.
"The government of the day should recognise that this is what the people here voted for."
The town of Wedderburn also does not have its own hospital, aged care centre, dentist or resident doctor.
Loddon Shire mayor Gavan Holt said the Ambulance Victoria data was further evidence of the town's need for an ambulance.
"I believe in evidence-based arguments, and this is further evidence," he said.
"We're back to where we started again. When the dust settles from the election, we will talk to the new Health Minister about the situation."
The Ambulance Victoria data placed Hepburn and Golden Plains shires as the worst two in the state for response times. Bendigo, along with other regional cities, performed well.