Western Downs residents demanding answers over Tara Hospital upgrade plan
Concerned residents have launched a petition for community involvement in an upcoming hospital upgrade in the Western Downs, claiming they’ve been left in the dark.
Chinchilla
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Western Downs community members are demanding answers, claiming they received no consultation following the announcement that Tara Hospital would receive an upgrade in the coming months.
Tara local Sophie Bougoure launched a petition last week addressed to the Labor government, after they told parliament three months ago that they would launch a communications plan for the redevelopment of the Tara Hospital.
“We found out last year through parliament, (Tara was) getting a hospital upgrade, then it went silent,” Ms Bougoure said.
“We assumed it would be put through to the next election, then people started talking in town because the medical board had been out to the hospital.”
She said herself and other community members made the assumption the visit was due to the devastating Wieambilla massacre that saw the death of two police officers and a neighbour in December last year.
“It came out they were here for the upgrades which we thought was pretty interesting considering we hadn’t heard anything more other than it made the budget,” Ms Bougoure said.
The Tara local said she was made aware that Member for Warrego Ann Leahy asked the government on October 12 while in parliament if a communications plan for public input would be launched regarding the hospital upgrades.
“The community want answers,” Ms Leahy said.
“Business owners and community organisations want to know from the state Labor government what is proposed for their hospital.”
Mrs Bougoure said herself, as well as her grandmother Beryl Bougoure, who is the Tara Hospital auxiliary president, and surrounding businesses had a number of concerns regarding the redevelopment.
“Will there be room for expansion?” she said.
“Unfortunately what happens is they give us something fit for purpose today and you don’t get looked at again for another 30, 40 or 50 years and our population may grow.”
A major concern for Tara residents was that land behind the current standing hospital was prone to flooding, which would prove impossible to expand on.
“If the current hospital is going to remain open during construction it can only go to the east or west of the hospital,” Ms Bougoure said.
“When we started talking to people and businesses living around the hospital they weren’t even aware it was happening.”
“We’re extremely happy they have put us forward for a new hospital but without community consultation we don’t know what we’re getting.”
Mrs Bougoure said their goal is to reach between 1000 – 2000 signatures.
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