A sporting group claims the proposed site for the relocated Kiama Ambulance Station would create parking and safety issues.
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In March 2015, then NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced that a re-elected Baird Government would invest about $5 million to begin the work to relocate and upgrade the Kiama Ambulance Station.
They pledged that the government was committed to detailed planning and work on the station, and it would begin in the next term.
At the time, Mr Ward said he would ideally like to see it co-located next to the fire station, but the location would be subject to the scoping study and consultation.
However, Kiama Netball Association claims the proposed site already suffers from insufficient parking, especially during the winter sport seasons when netball, football and Leisure Centre patrons all vie for the limited parking available.
KNA president Rhonda Beedles said the proposal would result in parking issues and changes to traffic flow through and around the Leisure Centre, potentially preventing players from getting to the courts safely.
“Kiama Netball Association supports the upgrade of the Kiama Ambulance Station, however the proposed venue next to the Kiama Fire Station is not suitable or large enough for the purpose,” their recent online petition states.
The association further claim that they currently patrol this “limited parking to ensure that netball vehicles don’t block access to the fire station egress”.
“This will be impossible if the grassed area that is used every Saturday for parking holds the ambulance station,” they wrote in a letter to Mr Ward.
Mrs Beedles said they were scheduled to meet with Mr Ward and Ambulance NSW on March 17.
Mr Ward said he was “conscious that netball has a great deal of ownership over the site where they are, and any proposal to locate the ambulance service near them will have to justify the maintenance of the existing car parking numbers and access for netball”.
“Health and Ambulance are looking at how they can structure the site, and whether or not the site can expand. We’ve been working with (Kiama) council to see if that’s possible.
“No final decision has been made… (Netball’s needs) are a high priority for me as well, but we need to obviously put the health care needs of the community first, and ensure that fast, accessible ambulance services can be provided from the best possible location.
“I’d also love to see the current ambulance station site used for something else to enhance what’s on offer in the CBD of Kiama.”
The petition is located at www.ipetitions.com/petition/re-think-kiama-ambulance-station-position.