Good news for Hills residents as government kick starts planning for new Rouse Hill hospital
THE much-awaited Rouse Hill hospital has finally received the financial go-ahead for preliminary work, with last week’s State Budget allocating a share of $15 million for its planning.
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THE much-awaited Rouse Hill hospital has finally received the financial go-ahead for preliminary work, with last week’s State Budget allocating a share of $15 million for its planning.
The hospital was promised by the government as part of the deal to sell or lease poles and wires in NSW.
Construction work on the Rouse Hill hospital is due to start in 2019 but no site has been announced yet.
The Ponds Family Medical Centre’s Dr Ravinder Singh said it would be “fantastic” if the new hospital proposed for the Rouse Hill area was located along Schofields Rd, as it would be much more accessible.
“The hospital should be easy to access and with the amount of traffic on Old Windsor Rd I don’t think it should be located there,” Dr Singh said..
“I also have noticed an increase in chest infections among my older patients and young people too.
“When it comes to patients with acute problems we usually have them transported to Blacktown Hospital or if they have private health insurance it is Norwest Private Hospital.
“However, Norwest Private Hospital does tend to be the place to go for specialist treatment.”
The government budget allocation of $15 million for planning includes planning for Liverpool, St George and Tumut hospitals, a staged development at Griffith Hospital and a mental health capital works program.
SCHOFIELDS A PRIORITY SUBURB
■ A $3 billion promise for infrastructure funding and a “specialist team” to get NSW councils to approve rezonings faster across Sydney will put 30,000 extra homes in new “priority” suburbs, the Budget revealed.
Schofields Town Centre is one of the 15 priority precincts across Sydney.
The government’s number one priority and answer to housing affordability was more supply, Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said, with about 75,000 homes expected to be built next financial year — double the long-term average.
“These record housing approvals and completions are improving housing supply, which is a major contributor to home affordability,” Mr Roberts said.
The are 15 “priority precincts” which will be “fast-tracked” into about 30,000 new homes with “accelerated rezoning and more diverse developments”.
The other areas are: Belmore/Lakemba, Burwood/Strathfield/Homebush, Campsie/Canterbury, Cherrybrook (government land), Frenchs Forest, Glenfield, Leppington Town Centre, Anzac Parade corridor, Riverwood, Seven Hills/Wentworthville, St Leonards/Crows Nest, Telopea, Turrella/Bardwell Park and Westmead.
■ The state budget will also fund new schools at the Alex Ave precinct in Schofields (2017/18 funding) and Marsden Park (2018/19 funding).
Extra classrooms will be built at Riverbank Public School in The Ponds, Schofields Public School, Quakers Hill East Public School and Riverstone High School.
The government is spending $104 million to build an additional 650 beds for Parklea Correction Centre to cope with the increase of numbers in state prisons.
The huge Schofields Rd upgrade receives a $44 million boost to complete stage two and continue stage 3.
Stage 2 is between Tallawong and Veron roads and includes an underpass of the Richmond railway line near Schofields train station and connects to Veron Rd.
Stage 3 is between Veron and Richmond roads and includes extending Schofields Rd from Veron Rd, across Eastern Creek, to Carnarvon Rd and widening the South St alignment.
The government has committed $16 million for the first stage to improve the busy Memorial Ave at Kellyville, which features an upgrade of the Old Windsor Rd intersection.
There will be a $53 million allocation for the Riverstone wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Meanwhile, Marsden Park, which has new housing estates springing up alongside the developing Sydney Business Park, will get a new fire station under the 2017/18 funding.
Other highlights of the budget for our suburbs include:
■ $11m for Denmark Link Rd from Garfield Rd West, Riverstone, to Westminster St bridge at Schofields
■ $740,000 for Youth on Track program in Quakers Hill, Blacktown and Mount Druitt
■ A new bus service Route 747 between Marsden Park and Rouse Hill Town Centre via Riverstone
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