Lives at risk over govt ramp failure

THE State Government is placing lives at risk through its failure to fully fund on/off ramps for Kiamas new bypass, according to NSW Shadow Health Minister Gillian Skinner.

Infrastructure spending generally by this government is appalling, said Mrs Skinner.

For the sake of an on/off ramp, to be putting peoples lives at risk is just very frustrating for ambulance staff.

Quick retrieval in an emergency situation is crucial its well known that the quicker you can get a patient to treatment, the better chance of preventing long term injury to that person.

Liberal Party candidate for the seat of Kiama, Trevor Fredericks joined Mrs Skinner to tour the Kiama Ambulance Station, which was built in 1972 and has undergone very little refurbishment since that time.

The ambulance staff here have spoken to me about the congestion they face from being based here and with the extra traffic in Terralong Street caused by the lack of the on/off ramps, said Mr Fredericks.

We had expected full funding in this budget, if not the one before and yet the government comes up with just $5 million of the $14 million the ramps will cost theyll be lucky to have one ramp completed by next year at that rate.

The effect (of the lack of ramps) can be quite dramatic if the ambos have an emergency and need to head north they face congestion getting to the highway from both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Mrs Skinner met with Kiama Council General Manager Michael Forsyth regarding the relocation of the station to a site closer to the existing highway entry point.

Mr Forsyth declined to comment on the meeting, however Kiama MP Matt Brown claimed he was still awaiting a formal response from Kiama Council with regard to an allocation of land and financial contribution toward the new station.

Ive been asking for that commitment in writing for six months, said Mr Brown yesterday.

Im keen to see the station rebuilt on the site next to Kiama Fire Station, which would give crews better access to the highway.

A report due to go to Kiama councillors at last nights meeting resolved to contribute $150,000 toward the construction of the new building and make land available on the provision that the existing ambulance station site is dedicated for community purposes under councils control.