Mudgee: $2.25 million Western Health staff housing facility plans before council

A $2.25 million temporary accommodation facility to allow key health workers to stay in the Mudgee community is before Mid-Western Regional Council. Take a look at the plans.

Proposed multi dwelling housing on site of Mudgee Health Service.

In a bid to bolster health care in the state’s central west, a $2.25 million housing facility for key workers on a “temporary basis” has been submitted to Mid-Western Regional Council.

The development application at 30 Meares St, Mudgee will see four buildings, including two – two-bedroom dwellings and two – one-bedroom dwellings.

Proposed multi dwelling housing on site of Mudgee Health Service.

“While the proposed dwellings have been architecturally designed, they will be manufactured off-site and are defined as a manufactured home,” the developer said.

“[It] forms a part of the NSW Government’s ‘Key Worker Housing Program’ which recognises the need to provide temporary accommodation for visiting staff within the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).

“The proposed [housing] will provide safe and high-quality accommodation for key workers on a temporary basis and ensure the sustainability of health care by having health care professionals available in the rural and regional NSW to provide optimum care to the community.”

All four dwellings will be located to the north of the current hospital at the Mudgee Health Service facility which includes a five bed emergency department, operated by one doctor onsite.

“The hospital has a general ward that caters for medical and surgical patients with a capacity of 16 beds with surge capacity to 23 beds,” the developer said.

“The maternity unit has two birthing rooms and a capacity of eight beds. There are two operating theatres, four recovery beds and eight, day surgery chairs.”

If approved by council the developer said there will be six carparking spaces available to cater to health care workers staying in the housing.

The development application is on exhibition until December 6.