By JESSE GRAHAM
DISGRUNTLED Tecoma residents are rallying against the location of the town’s new ambulance branch, though special rules leave them without any means of redress.
However, Ambulance Victoria has said that it consulted with the community on the process, and will minimise the impact on residents near the new, 24-hour site.
Andrew Macpherson and a group of Tecoma residents who live near the soon to be constructed ambulance branch on Rocksleigh Avenue have a list of concerns, and frustration at a lack of appeal power.
He said many residents had not had their voices heard on the matter, due to a special exemption that leaves certain government services able to build without permits.
The exemption covers a range of ministerial offices – including health – and allows governmental properties, such as the ambulance branch, to be constructed without permit approval.
It is Mr Macpherson’s belief that Rocksleigh Avenue, which is approximately 600 metres long, and six metres wide, would be a bad location for the service.
Among his list of concerns are the inability to turn right onto Burwood Highway in intense traffic, concerns over whether the road would need keep-clear zones to accommodate ambulance traffic and a lack of footpaths resulting in foot-traffic on the roads.
“The positioning of the building is the real issue,” he said.
“If they build it, it’s going to be a huge error – it is never going to fit or work.”
Ambulance Victoria Regional Manager, Cath Anderson, said the organisation had engaged with the community, to ensure the best result and minimal impact on neighbours.
Part of this consultation included Ambulance Victoria saying that paramedics would only use their emergency lights and sirens when responding to Code 1 cases – the most severe callouts.
Ms Anderson said the group had not been aware of the exemption for the ambulance station, and had not applied for it, but had it applied by Yarra Ranges Council.
“Late in the planning process, after we sought a decision from the Yarra Ranges Council on our application, the council informed Ambulance Victoria that the proposed branch does not require a planning permit, as it is exempt from the requirements of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme,” Ms Anderson said.
“Yarra Ranges Council – not Ambulance Victoria – applied the exemption. Ambulance Victoria had not sought the exemption.”
In a meeting on 22 April, Yarra Ranges Council’s Executive Officer of Planning Services, Angus McGuckian, said the exemption laws applied to state authorities operating under ministers – such as ambulance services under the Minister for Health.
Mr McGuckian said the planning exemption offered little redress for objectors to the development, but had noted a “high degree of engagement” by Ambulance Victoria with the objectors.
Ms Anderson said that feedback from residents had resulted in modifications to the original designs, with material and colour changes to help the branch to blend with the surrounding buildings, and an alteration in the floor plan to retain more vegetation.
“We maintain our commitment to be a good neighbour, as we continue to provide our emergency service for the people of the Yarra Ranges,” she said.
In response to Mr Macpherson’s concerns about clearways, Ms Anderson said the organisation did not think it was necessary to have a keep-clear zone or parking restrictions on Rocksleigh Avenue.
She said the ambulance branch would be going to tender soon, with construction to take place later in the year.
The new Tecoma ambulance branch follows an announced upgrade to the Belgrave ambulance branch from a peak-period unit to a 24-hour branch in 2011.
Accompanying the announcement was funding for the construction of a purpose-built branch, which is the soon-to-be constructed Tecoma branch, with state-of-the-art facilities and a garage for ambulances.
What do you think of the location of the new ambulance branch? Write a letter to the editor at PO Box 470, Healesville, Victoria, 3777, or email editor@yvnews.com.au.
