Community Rallies For Pioneer Valley Ambulance Station

Pioneer Valley is experiencing significant growth, with its population rising by 16% since 2013. Local resident Erin Sinnamon believes the time is right to better serve the community by establishing an ambulance station, and she has launched a petition that now has the support of Member for Mirani, Glen Kelly.

Currently, the nearest ambulance stations are located in Finch Hatton and Paget, leaving some areas—such as Marian—with response times exceeding 20 minutes.

Mr Kelly expressed his backing for the petition, emphasizing that he understands the urgent need for an ambulance presence in the Valley.

“These communities are right smack in the middle of the coverage area of two other ambulance

stations, that can cause delays in response time,” Mr Kelly said.

“This region is growing, and there’s more houses to come over the next few years so there’s

definitely a growing demand.

“With council planning on expanding the mountain bike trail up the mountain, there’s definitely a

risk that the ambulance from Finch Hatton could be out on a call and another needed up in there, so

having one here in the Valley would be a way to expand that accessibility.

“This is something that there’s been multiple attempts over the years to try and get for the Valley,

because of how long it takes to get from Paget out to places like Mirani and Marian.

“The Pioneer Valley is one of the places that people can live, and having the surety of these services provides confidence to people building and moving out to the area.”

Erin’s petition has garnered over 1600 signatures on change.org thus far.

“There have been a couple of separate pushes over the years to get an Ambulance Station in the

Valley, but there’s been population increases in the area, and all it takes is a delay and something

serious could happen,” Ms Sinnamon said.

“People have unfortunately passed away when ambulance delays have resulted in ambulances

taking up to 75 minutes to respond to an emergency in the Pioneer Valley.

“Our paramedics work hard, and all it takes for something to happen up in Finch Hatton or Eungella for the ambulance up there to get tied up and people left waiting on an ambulance.”

In 2010, a Devereux Creek man tragically passed away after following a minor heart attack with a 75 minute wait for an ambulance.

The petition is available here: change.org/p/help-bring-an-additional-emergency-

services-station-to-the-pioneer-valley-qld

1 – Erin Sinnamon and MP Glen Kelly meet to discuss the petition. Photo supplied

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