Eurobodalla regional hospital construction set to begin next year
The NSW Health Minister has announced when construction is expected to begin on a long-awaited regional hospital in the south coast.
The South Coast News
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The long wait for a decision on the new Eurobodalla hospital site may soon be over with the NSW Government announcing construction will begin next year.
Bega state Liberal MP Andrew Constance joined NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday to make the announcement, which has been welcomed by advocates of the development.
This week’s announcement comes after NSW Health said earlier this month construction of the $200 million hospital would begin before the 2023 state election.
Mr Hazzard said he was “excited” to get work underway and thanked Southern NSW local Health District CEO Margaret Bennett for the district’s help in the process.
“I would say early in the new year they (Health Infrastructure NSW) will be starting the master planning,” he said.
Moruya gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Michael Holland, who began a petition two years ago pushing for the construction of a regional hospital in the Eurobodalla, said while he was excited by the news, he was disappointed the $10 million announced will come from the already promised $200 million.
“Our community is very grateful for this announcement,” Dr Holland said on Friday.
“The release of $10 million will fasttrack the improvements required in accident and emergency services and the development of critical care services in transition to opening a new regional hospital with level 4 clinical service capability.
“It will also provide funding for site purchase.”
Dr Holland said an earlier-than-expected start date would hopefully mean a sooner-than-expected completion date.
“It is important to recognise the work of NSW Health Infrastructure in this project,” he said.
“Many more people are working on the development of models of care for opening the hospital with the anticipated level 4 services.”
Dr Holland said earlier this month he expected a site to be announced soon, and after this week’s Budget announcement said a preferred site was soon to be announced.
Mr Constance said “based on the Bega experience” of the South East Regional Hospital, master planning, development applications, early works and contracting builders can take between 18 months and two years.
“It’s not going to take 10 years like (the comments) I’ve seen on Facebook,” he said.
“It’s going to be a lot quicker than that, and if anybody doesn’t believe me, I’d say to them ‘I had that same feedback with the Batemans Bay bridge, and go and have a look at that, it’s happening and this is going to happen’.”
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