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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-06-26 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Rebuilt Marion Ambulance Station

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:39): I move:

That the 144th report of the committee, entitled Rebuilt Marion Ambulance Station, be noted.

The South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) operates 119 ambulance stations located across South Australia, including the MedSTAR emergency medical retrieval service at Adelaide Airport. SAAS has developed an Operational Growth Plan that sets out how state government investment in infrastructure, vehicles and staffing will be delivered.

The rebuilt Marion Ambulance Station project will deliver a new ambulance station on the existing site at Sturt Road in Mitchell Park, and is part of a broader $102 million Department for Health and Wellbeing program to deliver five new and six rebuilt ambulance stations. The station will provide accommodation for SAAS crews to expand service capacity and capabilities, as well as improve service coverage for consumers in the southern metropolitan area.

SAAS has worked with Renewal SA to identify potential locations for the new and rebuilt ambulance stations, and has determined the rebuilt Marion Ambulance Station will be located on Sturt Road, Mitchell Park within a predominantly low-scale residential and municipal zone that includes the nearby Sturt Police Station and local council depot facilities. The project will provide patient-centred emergency services designed around community needs, and forms part of the government's 2022 election commitment to improve ambulance service infrastructure.

During the concept design process, the project team identified that the existing site for the rebuilt ambulance station presented challenges due to its narrow, long, linear nature. The existing site also has a crossfall of approximately 2½ metres from east to west and is bounded by roads on three sides, with an elevated train line to the east. The design of the new station is heavily influenced by these site constraints, and to meet functional requirements SA Health is acquiring land between the existing station and the railway line from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. This land parcel contains existing services that will be relocated outside the proposed site boundary as part of the building works.

The project will deliver a two-storey fit-for-purpose ambulance station that will provide accommodation for SAAS crews and garaging for seven ambulance vehicles and one light fleet vehicle, as well as two external parking bays for light fleet ambulance vehicles. The structure will be positioned at the western end of the site, with secure parking to the eastern end. General vehicular access will be provided through an existing crossover on Lynton Avenue, while returning ambulance vehicles will use a new entrance on Bradley Grove that provides direct access to the garage. The existing crossover at the front of the site will be used for exiting emergency vehicles only and will be supplemented by warning lights.

The construction works will provide a two-level structure comprising crew and training rooms, a study area and office, a shared working area and meeting room, six personal staff break rooms and a kitchen and dining space; nine standard ambulance bays, seven located within the garage and two within an outdoor covered space; one ambulance and light fleet vehicle bay within the proposed garage; and 25 outdoor car parking spaces. During construction, the station will be decanted and SAAS staff will be temporarily relocated.

The project is expected to cost $9 million, drawn from the broader $102 million state government commitment to deliver new and rebuilt ambulance stations. Construction is anticipated to commence this August, with the expectation to be practically complete in November 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 has engaged the professional service contractors, and the general building contractor will be engaged utilising standard form of contract. Further specialist contractors may be engaged as required. An executive steering committee has been established with an executive-level membership across SA Health, SAAS, DIT and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. The committee is supported by an integrated management team that operates at a program management level for all key matters.

The project team has established formal processes to ensure 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, as well as 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.

The department states there are no local heritage places or items located on the site and confirms that any significant trees within the development zone will be protected in accordance with legislative requirements. The department also states that a search of the central archive identified no record of Aboriginal sites in the proposed work location.

SA Health will remain in ongoing consultation with stakeholders in the community throughout the construction process and into service readiness. The community has been informed via targeted letterbox drops and was invited to a community information session held in June. Throughout development and construction, SAAS 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 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 Marion 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.

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.

Motion carried.

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