Public Works Committee: Rebuilt Campbelltown Ambulance Station

Mr BROWN (Florey) (11:50): I move:

That the 97^th report of the committee, entitled Rebuilt Campbelltown Ambulance Station, be noted.

In early 2022, the state government made an election commitment of $38 million to deliver four new and four rebuilt ambulance stations, with an additional $12 million for land acquisition. The program aimed to significantly expand the service delivery capabilities for the South Australian Ambulance Service, otherwise known as SAAS.

The expansion was designed to strengthen emergency responses across metropolitan Adelaide and surrounding regions through a strategic increase in the quality and capacity of ambulance infrastructure. The program has since expanded to include five new and six rebuilt stations, with the funding increased to $102 million to accommodate the increased scope of the project as well as to accommodate the significant cost escalations in construction trade pricing, land acquisitions, demolition and utility connections.

SAAS operates 119 ambulance stations across South Australia, including the MedSTAR emergency medical retrieval service at Adelaide Airport. For the Campbelltown locality, the relocation of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, combined with the tram extension along North Terrace, has impacted response capabilities in Adelaide's eastern suburbs. There has also been a requirement for Campbelltown crews to attend cases in the Adelaide CBD and, when using North Terrace to return to base, they can be impacted by periods of peak traffic.

The rebuilt Campbelltown station will complement the existing stations in Oakden and Parkside as well as the new station in Norwood to provide a service that meets the objective outlines in the SA Health strategic plan; namely, to strengthen primary health care and enhance hospital care by providing more services close to where people live.

With practical completion expected in November 2025, the investing budget for the Campbelltown Ambulance Station project is $8.4 million, and cost and value management throughout the design phases will aim to ensure ongoing value-for-money outcomes. The new station will garage nine ambulance vehicles and two light fleet vehicles and provide expanded facilities to accommodate additional SAAS crews, providing increased patient-centred emergency services designed around community needs.

The current arrangements are that the ambulance station is co-located with St John Ambulance and the site is on Crown land with St John Ambulance listed as the custodian. The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has approved the rededication of the land to SA Health, and the new facility will remain co-located with St John Ambulance, which will take a new sublease for its accommodation. The SAAS portion of the new building will be generally closed to the public, as per the current arrangements.

The decision to rebuild the station was made after a detailed investigation indicated the station required upgrading to meet the increased demand in the area. The selected upgrade concept is to construct a two-storey rebuilt station that will provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities at the existing Montacute Road site that will accommodate the additional workforce required to meet operational needs and emergency provisions for the surrounding areas. The rebuilt station will house 36 paramedics across various shift lines, with a minimum of 14 staff on site at peak periods. The rebuilt station will include:

a main garage for nine ambulances and two light vehicles, with supporting storerooms, linen utilities and drug store;

a large training room with audiovisual equipment, a multiuse room and two offices with workstations;

a kitchen and dining space, an eight-person crew rest room, as well as storage, ancillary supporting accommodation and seven personal work rest break staffrooms;

bathroom, toilet and cloakroom facilities; and

a 22-space car park as well as bicycle parking for staff and visitors.

Further works for St John Ambulance include two covered ambulance vehicle parking bays, a four-person office, a shared training room, a kitchenette and supporting facilities. The Campbelltown Ambulance Station crew will decamp to a building in Stepney when demolition commences.

The delivery of the project will follow best practice principles for project procurement, including extensive consultation, evaluation and review of solutions against the brief, development of formal communications with community and stakeholders, preparation of a program that reflects the project scope, establishing and managing a cost plan, appointment of professional service contractors, and scheduling reviews of design, documentation and construction.

The project team is managing project risk, and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport will undertake its mandated risk-management approach for the project. A steering committee has been established with executive-level membership across SA Health, SAAS, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Risk management has identified capital cost pressures from high rates of inflation and escalation, and the team has also reviewed geotechnical information and undertaken destructive tests and boreholes to establish and mitigate any existing adverse conditions.

The project team has established formal processes to ensure that sustainable development principles are incorporated into the design, construction and operation of the ambulance station. SA Health recognises that providing a facility with good environmental qualities will provide a positive environment and work place for staff and users, support improved wellbeing and assist in managing behaviours. Design measures have been incorporated to support increased adaptability with minimal impact.

These include provisions for future electric vehicle charging stations, options for full or partial solar output, and highly accessible and flexible spaces to support changes of use to incorporate shifting technology and mechanical systems. A range of detailed initiatives are in place to maximise sustainable outcomes throughout the project's life span regarding indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, monitoring, transport, water use, materials and emissions. An independent advocate consultant will be engaged to assist in the successful delivery of the sustainable aspirations of the project.

There are no local heritage places or items located on the site, and SA Health confirms that any significant trees within the development zone will be protected in accordance with legislative requirements. The Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects determined that there is no record of Aboriginal sites in the proposed works location.

SA Health will engage in ongoing consultation with stakeholders and the community throughout the construction process and into service readiness. The community has been informed via targeted letter drops as well as a community information session held last October. Throughout the implementation of the project, SAAS and the SA Health media and communications unit will manage required external communications, media inquiries and press releases. The project teams have also undertaken specialised subject matter expert reviews with various units and agencies within SA Health and SAAS, including work health and safety, infection control, hygiene advisers and industrial bodies.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the rebuilt Campbelltown Ambulance Station project. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Melissa Nozza, Director, Capital Projects, Infrastructure, Department for Health and Wellbeing; Rob Elliot, Chief Executive Officer, South Australian Ambulance Service; Paul Lemmer ASM, Executive Director, Metropolitan Operations, South Australian Ambulance Service; Francesca Hughes, Project Manager, Building Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; and Paul Townsin, Associate Architect, Walter Brooke and Associates. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:59): I will not hold the house for long; I believe we have one minute. Obviously, with this investment of the renewed Campbelltown Ambulance Station in my electorate of Morialta, I am very pleased to see this work underway. It was one of the government's very small number of new commitments in Morialta at the last election. I am very supportive of that work going ahead. I am very grateful to the people who are working in that area in SA Health and the SA Ambulance Service and, particularly, all of those who serve the community in Morialta through this important piece of infrastructure in Newton. I thank the committee for their work.

Motion carried.