City unveils plans for new $28M fire, police station in Waterdown

The City of Hamilton has unveiled plans for a brand new $28-million fire and police station set to be built in Waterdown.

Currently, police have an office in Waterdown but still cover the area based out of the Hamilton Mountain station found on the other side of the city.

The City now plans to build a brand new station for fire and police services at Parkside Drive and Highway 6.

“In a significant way it’s going to mean Waterdown Ward 15 east of Highway 6 is finally moving to be truly integrated into this great beloved City of Hamilton.” says Ted McMeekin, Councillor for Waterdown/Flamborough.

When the station is completed, Waterdown will have more firefighters and two additional fire trucks joining the one station that is already in the booming community that is expected to grow to as much as 40,000 people in the next few years.

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“What this means is that we are repositioning and we’ll have more resources to respond 24/7, 365 right in the Waterdown area.” says Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe.

“We’ll be able to show reductions in those responses for those larger more complex incidents.”

Police presence is also set to grow from the eight officers currently assigned to the area to more than 80 police personnel.

Business leaders like Ross Nelson of the Royal Coachman welcome plans for the new station.

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“I think it would make everybody feel a lot more comfortable, with all the break ins you keep hearing about and what not.” says Nelson.

There are also hopes that the new station along Highway 6 will help to change the driving habits that have led to numerous crashes on the roadway.

Councillor McMeekin says it could end up changing a lot of people’s thinking about Hamilton.

“We will begin to turn around a lot of those attitudes and I think that’s good.”

The City says it hopes to open the doors to the new station in 2026.