Victor Harbor will get an additional 24-hour paramedic crew and a refurbished ambulance station - if the ALP wins the March 19 state election.

The ALP has also promised to fund a paid 24-hour paramedic crew at the Goolwa Ambulance Station, which is currently only staffed by volunteers.

State Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas made the promise this morning during a visit to the Victor Harbor station with Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton and Leon Bignell, the Member for Mawson. 

The Ambulance Employees Association has been campaigning for some time for an additional paramedic crew to be stationed at Victor Harbor.

Currently, one paid crew covers the southern Fleurieu from midnight to 7am, assisted by volunteer crews operating out of the Goolwa and Yankalilla stations.

Local woman Mel Mountstephen was at the station this morning for the announcement. In July 2019 her 34 year-old brother Jason, who suffered from pulmonary hypertension, passed away at his Goolwa home after waiting more than 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

At the time the Victor Harbor crew was ramped at an Adelaide hospital and the Goolwa volunteers were attending another job.  Another ambulance crew was diverted from Strathalbyn to attend but unfortunately Jason passed away before they could help him.

(Image: Mel Mounstephen at the Victor Harbor Ambulance Station) 

The Association renewed their call for additional staffing last Easter when it took 25 minutes for an ambulance to reach a collapsed scuba diver at Encounter Bay.

The ALP say they will pay for additional ambulance resources with the $700M intended for the construction of the planned Adelaide Riverbank arena.

In the last week they have also promised to fund a 24-hour paramedic service at Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula, additional 24-hour emergency ambulances at Whyalla and Mount Gambier and regional transfer ambulances at Whyalla, Port Augusta, Keith and Peterborough.