NSW Budget 2018: funds allocated for northwest hospital, doctor calls for site in Schofields, Box Hill or Kellyville
MILLIONS of dollars for a public hospital at Rouse Hill has been allocated in the State Budget, but we are no closer to finding out where the hospital will be located.
Hills Shire
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MILLIONS of dollars for a public hospital at Rouse Hill has been allocated in the State Budget.
A $75 million fund to acquire land for Rouse Hill Hospital was revealed by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet last week when Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott and Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Connolly championed the Budget as a cash bonanza.
The funds, which will help identify the site of the hospital, were revealed as part of a statewide $8 billion health infrastructure fund.
Mr Elliott said he was more than grateful for the allocation.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that when we open the Norwest Rail Link would I be then watching the construction of the Rouse Hill Public Hospital,” Mr Elliott told the Times.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Budget would help deliver funding for 40 new, upgraded or redeveloped hospitals across the state, including Rouse Hill.
Mr Connolly said his electorate would benefit from record investments in hospital infrastructure.
Residents are expecting the public hospital will be in the Rouse Hill Town Centre precinct but the State Government has not determined any locations at this stage.
Baulkham Hills state Labor candidate and Hills Shire councillor Ryan Tracey said the government had seven years to deliver the Rouse Hill Hospital and claimed the funding in the Budget was “too little too late”.
Riverstone Labor candidate Dr Annemarie Christie said there were concerns about the $75 million hospital, expected to cost more than $300 million.
“We do not have enough information to comment as the government has not revealed any further plans,” she said.
Dr Anne Howard from the Northwest Health Medical Centre said vacant land in Schofields, Box Hill and Beaumont Hills would be the most suitable locations for a public hospital.
“The public hospital should be located of Windsor Rd to ensure there is not an increased impact on traffic issues,” Dr Howard said.
“There is a lot of vacant land in Schofields, Beaumont Hills or Box Hill where the hospital could be based.
“We are in desperate need of a public hospital in the Hills, we have a growing community and there needs to be health services to match that growth.”
A Health Infrastructure NSW spokesman said the department was working with Western Sydney Local Health District to identify a site that would be suitable.
CASH SPLASH FOR ROADS, SCHOOLS AND PARKS
HUNDREDS of millions of dollars will help fund infrastructure projects across the Hills after the release of the State Budget last week.
One of the major commitments is $22 million to buy land to upgrade the congested Memorial Ave.
A total $2.4 billion was set aside to complete the Sydney Metro Norwest
But a shock to Baulkham Hills state Liberal MP David Elliott was $500,000 for a pedestrian and cycle path along Strangers Creek from Solent Circuit to Fairway Drive in Norwest and Kellyville.
He said families, such as those in Balmoral Estate where up to 100 people a week were moving in, would welcome the path to avoid walking through construction zones to reach Marketown Norwest.
But Baulkham Hills Labor candidate and Hills Shire councillor Ryan Tracey said nothing had been done in the past four years since the state election to start work on the commuter carpark.
At Schofields, $31.5 million has been allocated to upgrade Boundary Rd and McCulloch St two lanes in each direction between Schofields Rd and Cranbourne St, and another $4 million for an extension of Boundary Rd, Riverstone.
The $69 million for roads will include upgrades to Jerralong Drive to connect Schofields station to the Alex Ave precinct and upgrades to Rouse Rd and $4.2 million construction of the Rouse Rd Bridge. Schools will also be built in the Alex Avenue precinct and Marsden Park. A total of $24.5 million has been allocated for the Riverstone Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A total of $4.5 million will construct 60 extra car spaces and lighting at Schofields train station.
But Riverstone Labor candidate Dr Annemarie Christie said there were no new announcements in the State Budget.
“Essentially, in this cash splash by the government, there were no new funds for the Riverstone electorate,” she said.
More than $21 million would be set aside for Hills Shire Council infrastructure projects, including the construction and upgrade of Balmoral Road Sports Complex and Stringer Road Sport Complex in Kellyville.
