Public Works Committee: Rebuilt Whyalla Ambulance Station

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:02): I move:

That the 146^th report of the committee, entitled Rebuilt Whyalla Ambulance Station, be noted.

The South Australian Ambulance Service operates 119 ambulance stations located across South Australia, including the MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval Services at Adelaide Airport. The Ambulance Service has developed an operational growth plan which sets out how state government investment in infrastructure, vehicles and staffing will be delivered.

The Rebuilt Whyalla Ambulance Station project is part of a broader $102 million Department for Health and Wellbeing program to deliver five new and six rebuilt ambulance stations. The rebuilt station will provide accommodation for ambulance crews to expand service capacity and capabilities as well as improve service coverage for consumers in the expanding Whyalla community and surrounding areas.

The existing Whyalla Ambulance Station building is owned by St John and is co-tenanted with St John and the Metropolitan Fire Service. As is, the building cannot easily be upgraded or expanded to meet operational requirements, and SAAS has worked with Renewal SA to identify a potential location. They have determined the rebuilt Whyalla Ambulance Station will be located at Lot 4097 Nicolson Avenue, approximately 1.3 kilometres from its present location.

The location is a greenfield site with no existing facilities and is situated in front of the former Edward John Eyre High School. It is bounded by Nicolson Avenue to the south, Searle Street to the west, and a subarterial road in an east-west direction. The location also benefits from existing unrestricted street parking immediately adjacent to the site.

The project will provide patient-centred emergency services designed around community needs and forms part of the state government's 2022 election commitment to provide the Ambulance Service infrastructure. The new station will include garage parking for eight ambulances, with room for expansion; a carport for four vehicles at the rear of the garage, including two light fleet vehicles and an operational fleet vehicle; office accommodation, including one operations manager's office and a two-person administrative office; a 12-person training room, one study, one quiet room and an eight-person meeting room; one kitchen and crew area, including general storage; and 25 external car parking spaces, including one accessible car park plus overflow parking for 10 further vehicles.

The project is expected to cost $10 million, drawn from the broader $102 million state government commitment to deliver the new and rebuilt ambulance stations. Construction is anticipated to commence this October, with the expectation to be complete late next year.

The delivery of the project will follow best practice principles for project procurement and management, which will include extensive consultation, evaluation and review of solutions against the brief, development of formal communications with stakeholders and the community, preparation of a program that reflects the scope of the project, establishing and managing a cost plan, appointment of professional service contractors, and scheduling reviews of design, documentation and construction. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) has engaged the professional services contractors, and the general building contractor will be engaged utilising the standard form of contract. Further contractors may be engaged as required.

A steering committee has been established with executive-level membership across SA Health, the Ambulance Service, DIT, and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. The steering committee is supported by an integrated management team that operates at a program management level for all key matters, including risk management. The team has identified key risks including capital cost pressures from high rates of inflation and escalation, as well as flood risks, for which the works will raise civil levels accordingly. The project team has reviewed geotechnical information at the site to establish existing conditions with the intent of mitigating or removing potential risks.

The project team has established formal processes to ensure that ecological and sustainability 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 workplace for staff and users, support improved wellbeing and assist in managing behaviours.

Design measures have been incorporated to support increased adaptability and changes of use with minimal impact, including highly accessible and flexible spaces to support and incorporate changing technology, as well as provisions for a solar electric system and future electric vehicle charging stations. A range of detailed initiatives are in place to maximise sustainability outcomes throughout the project's life span regarding indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, monitoring, transport, water use, materials and emissions. An independent consultant will be engaged to assist in the successful delivery of sustainability initiatives.

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 and was invited to a community information session held in June. Throughout the implementation of the project, the Ambulance Service and the SA Health media and communications unit will manage required external communications, media inquiries and press releases.

The project team has also undertaken specialised subject matter expert reviews with various units and agencies within SA Health and the Ambulance Service, including work health and safety, infection control, hygiene advisers and industrial bodies. The department states that a search of the central archive identified no record of Aboriginal sites in the proposed works location and that there is no identified local or state heritage value at the site.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Rebuilt Whyalla Ambulance Station. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Melissa Nozza, Director, Capital Projects, Department for Health and Wellbeing; Paul Lemmer, Executive Director, South Australian Ambulance Service; Robert Tolson, Executive Director, Country Operations, South Australian Ambulance Service; Rob Elliott, Chief Executive Officer, South Australian Ambulance Service; and John Jenner, Portfolio Manager, Health, Department for Infrastructure and Transport. I thank the witnesses for their time. I also acknowledge the advocacy of local member, the member for Giles, Eddie Hughes.

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 work.