The Liberal government’s failure to fulfil its election promise to build a new ambulance station in Burnie is a betrayal of paramedics and the North West community.
Labor Member for Braddon Anita Dow said not only is the new ambulance station needed in the local community, but it is a critical piece of infrastructure that could help the region’s recovery from COVID-19.
“The government promised before the 2018 election to invest $6 million to build a new state-of-the-art ambulance station on a greenfield site in Burnie,” Ms Dow said.
“But more than two years down the track, we still don’t even have a confirmed site and the initial completion date in 2021 is looking increasingly unlikely.
“After dealing with two hospital closures at the height of the pandemic and the closure of the emergency department outside business hours at the Mersey Community Hospital, the people of the North West deserve better.
“Paramedics in the region are under enormous pressure with longer travel times, and the promised $6 million investment in a new ambulance station would not only help them, but also contribute to the region’s recovery.
“Waiting times for ambulances have increased under the Liberals. This project was supposed to reduce waiting times by providing better access to the highway for ambulance vehicles.
“The Liberals’ failure to act means people in the North West will continue to wait for an ambulance longer than anywhere else in the country.
“Labor’s COVID-19 Recovery Package identifies investment in regional health infrastructure as a key priority for economic and social recovery, and includes a recommendation to fast-track a new Burnie Ambulance Station.
“This would not only provide a vastly improved service for the region, but also create much-needed construction jobs and provide a boost for local construction businesses affected by the downturn in commercial construction projects.
“This important project should already be underway, but we still don’t even have a proposed site. The government must get on with it. Our paramedics and the North West community deserve no less.”
Anita Dow MP
Labor Member for Braddon
