Noarlunga Ambulance Station

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (14:47): My question is to the Minister for Health. Minister, how will the state government celebrate the opening of the new Noarlunga ambulance station?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:47): Recently, I had the pleasure of joining with the members for Reynell and Kaurna to officially open the brand-new Noarlunga ambulance station, the latest station to be delivered by the government. I am happy to tell the house that on 12 September the station became fully operational, allowing our dedicated paramedics to service the southern suburbs from this fantastic, purpose-built facility.

As part of Transforming Health's significant investment in our ambulance service, plans for the new Noarlunga station were supersized to allow for extra staff and operational capacity. In fact, the $5.3 million station is the largest in South Australia, designed to meet the health needs of the growing southern communities now and for many years to come. The station will serve as the regional headquarters for the south and will provide an additional 24/7 emergency crew and house up to 13 ambulances and five light-fleet vehicles.

Fifty operational administrative staff work from the building, which includes training and study facilities, a kitchen and crew room, 12 individual restrooms, bike storage and car parking. Located on Beach Road opposite Noarlunga Hospital, the station is perfectly positioned and designed to service a growing community. It reinforces the investment this government has made in building new stations and increasing the number of paramedics and ambulances on the road.

Given how important this new station is to our southern suburbs, to celebrate its opening there will be an open day on Sunday 16 October from 10am to 2pm. The open day will showcase the new facility and include tours of the station, a chance to see inside an ambulance and a sausage sizzle. For the children, there will be face painting and the Ambulance Service's bear mascot, Paramedic Pete. I hope he's a member of the Australian Ambulance Employees Association for his sake.

I invite families who are interested to come along for what I'm sure will be a fantastic event. The new Noarlunga ambulance station, which was an election commitment boosted by investment from Transforming Health, shows this government's commitment to our hardworking paramedics and to the community and the care they provide day after day.