Health Inquiry and roads update

Very well done to all who lodged submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry on the Delivery of Health Services on the Yorke Peninsula; in the vicinity of 60 submissions were received.

The process now is that the Economic and Finance Committee reviews the submissions, calls witnesses to investigate issues raised and forms recommendations to take to Government.

The specific requests I made in my lodged submission included, that:

• Wallaroo Hospital be prioritised for a major redevelopment and expansion;
• Port Pirie Hospital be moved into the adjacent Flinders and Upper North LHN;
• Universities be compelled to fulfil minimum numbers of General Practitioner training places so as to ensure a sustainable pipeline of health practitioners;
• A service modelled on the Keith & District Hospital be implemented at Ardrossan; and
• Paid paramedic crews support volunteers at all regional ambulance stations.

I have also requested that the investigating committee visits our region, to conduct at least one public hearing to hear from local health workers and from consumers. I will advise venue/dates details as soon as any are confirmed.

Roads

Advocating for roads investment is ongoing, and last week I additionally called for better prioritisation by decision makers as it appears to me that local knowledge is not valued enough. Too often projects are announced on roads that, in my view, are relatively good compared to others that are left to languish on the needs list.

In the chamber last week, my specific advocacy was for improvements to the intersection of Mines Road and Thrington Road at North Yelta – the major thoroughfare that carries Adelaide traffic to the tourist hot spots of Moonta, Moonta Bay and Port Hughes. Locals report many near misses at this intersection but the department advises me crash statistics do not warrant an upgrade (although I had a win with getting the 80 km/hr zone extended past the intersection to at least improve safety).  

Grants

Congratulations to multiple community groups recently announced as successful recipients of government funding for worthy projects.

These included Port Vincent Progress Association, Nharangga Aboriginal Progress Association, SYP Community Hub, Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation, Port Broughton Bowling Club, Balgowan Progress Association and the Kulpara Old School Site Committee.