30 new ambulance vehicles for North Coast region

Thirty new Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) vehicles will be commissioned in the service’s North Coast region this financial year, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said the new ambulance vehicles were part of a $15.7 million commitment to commission 140 new vehicles across the State in 2007-08.

“The 30 new vehicles for the North Coast region will allow the QAS to replace 21 existing vehicles and commission another nine new vehicles,” Mr Roberts said.

The North Coast region includes stations in Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Burnett region.

QAS allocates new vehicles within regions based on the age, usage and mechanical condition of the vehicles to be replaced. QAS has a comprehensive vehicle maintenance program with scheduled servicing.

“The Queensland Ambulance Service now has a record budget of $404 million. We have budgeted to employ an additional 250 ambulance officers and commission 140 new ambulance vehicles,” Mr Roberts said.

“There is increasing demand for ambulance services in Queensland. QAS responded to more than 815,000 calls for assistance last financial year (2006-07), which is almost double the calls responded to a decade ago.”

Mr Roberts said in 2006-07, ambulance vehicles traveled more than 25.4 million kilometres, an extra 3.6 million kilometres compared to the preceding 12 months (2005-06).

Last month, Mr Roberts announced a new highly visible design for QAS vehicles to improve driver recognition when ambulances drive under emergency conditions.

Mr Roberts said the new livery was in line with the latest international best practice for emergency vehicle safety and followed extensive research by the QAS.

“This research found the most effective colours for retro-reflective lights were fluorescents including yellow and green,” Mr Roberts said.

“QAS vehicles are sometimes involved in accidents. Improving the visibility of ambulance vehicles improves safety of our ambulance officers, motorists and the wider community.”

Mr Roberts said the new markings will be applied to newly commissioned vehicles, with the old livery to be phased out as vehicles are decommissioned.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 07 3247 8194, 0418 197 350
Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976