Seaford Ambulance Station

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, would you be able to give parliament an update on the government's commitment to building a community ambulance station in my electorate at Seaford?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (15:02): Can I thank the member for Kaurna for this very important question, and I just put on record my thanks for his strong advocacy for the community of Seaford in fighting for the construction of a much-needed ambulance station from the very beginning.

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is warned.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: The government went to the last election with a promise to build three new ambulance stations to support growing communities in Adelaide's north-east and southern suburbs. For the south, the government is investing $7½ million to rebuild the Noarlunga station and build a new ambulance station at Seaford—a service badly needed to support the rapidly growing population in the area.

While this is a vital resource for the local community, I was very surprised to discover last month that the Onkaparinga council had rejected the government's proposal to build the station next to the Country Fire Service on Seaford Road. The SA Ambulance Service tells me this location fits within their modelling to give the best response time capability in all directions.

I was most disappointed to learn that the council rejected this proposal before the elected members could consider it, and the only reason given was it did not fit within a vague '20-year vision' for the area. Since then, my department has continued to work with the council to explore other potential sites that would satisfy the ambulance service operational requirements; however, many of those are on expensive private land or are too big for the scope of the project.

I am hopefully that common sense will prevail and a solution will be found as soon as possible. I am told my department will meet again with the Onkaparinga council next week, and I await the outcome of that meeting with keen interest, as I am sure the member for Kaurna does. However, to ensure the best outcome, I do implore elected members on the Onkaparinga council to not be pushed around by their bureaucrats, and to stand up for the needs of their local community. The state government is committed to building an ambulance station that best serves the residents of Seaford, and I urge the council to support what will be—

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is called to order.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: –an asset for the community for years to come.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is on two warnings.