Extra ambulance resources for Coen during tourist season

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is enhancing its capabilities in the Coen community on Cape York, to cater for the growing number of tourists visiting the region each year.

Health and Ambulance Services Minister Cameron Dick said an extra paramedic and ambulance vehicle would be located at the QAS Coen Field Office for six months during the dry season.

“The QAS Coen Field Office services an area from Weipa to the Musgrave River, and the town is an increasingly popular spot for grey nomads and 4WD enthusiasts to stop on their way to the tip of Cape York,” Mr Dick said.

“Tourism is an emerging industry on Cape York, with an increasing number of people travelling in caravans and motorhomes to the region every year.

“Of course, that does put some extra pressure on our emergency services, so I’m very pleased to announce this enhancement for the Coen Field Office.

“The additional paramedic and vehicle will join the existing Officer-in-Charge in Coen from April to October this year.”

He said other additional resources included a new Field Office building, additional staff relief quarters, a storage container and a new three-bay carport.

“The first stage of the works, worth $286,000, is also now complete. This involved demolishing the old carport and the transport of two modular buildings to the site,” Mr Dick said.

“Stage two of the works will start soon, and will include construction of the new three-bay carport, painting and connection of all services to the buildings. The total cost of the works is $592,000, and is due to finish by the end of June 2017.”

QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said the additional resources would be a great benefit to the local community, as well as helping to care for tourists that visited the area.

“Our Coen Field Office was established back in 2002, and it has made a really positive contribution to the local community,” Mr Bowles said.

“The office has allowed the QAS to not only deliver important pre-hospital care, but also ongoing education that has certainly benefited communities in Coen, Lockhart River, Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and outlying stations.

“This a welcome boost to the community and will enable us to enhance our service capabilities throughout the dry season, when the area receives a major influx of vehicle traffic.”

Mr Dick said the government was committed to giving the QAS the equipment, resources and infrastructure it needed to deliver first-class health care and emergency services right across the state.

“We know that the QAS is experiencing unprecedented demand for its services, with more than 66,000 additional calls for assistance recorded across Queensland in the past year,” he said.

“To meet this demand, we need to make sure we have enough paramedics and ambulances to effectively care for the community.”

ENDS

Media contact:

Michelle Wellington     0437 323 834