Eveything you need to know about the great Tweed Hospital debate summed up

HERE’S everything you need to know about the Tweed Valley Hospital debate polarising the community. We take a look into the facts behind the Tweed hospital site debacle.

Alan McIntosh is sick of watching the debate about the Tweed hospital site rage on. He has decided to step in and offer up his property in Cudgen for development instead ....FOR FREE. Picture: Jerad Williams

THE debate over where to build the new $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital is polarising the community.

The NSW Government wants it built on Cudgen Rd. The Tweed Shire Council and some residents say putting it there would ruin prime farming land and open the gates to more development.

A property owner’s offer to gift 12ha of land on Tweed Coast Road, estimated to be worth $2.5 million, was rejected and a campaign was launched late last week to convince the NSW Government to build the hospital further south west at Kings Forest, where a new estate is planned.

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The developer of the Kings Forest site Leda Holdings has also promised to deliver all necessary infrastructure required at no extra cost if their land is chosen.

Despite the conjecture, almost all stakeholders agree the region is in dire need of a new hospital:

GCB Proposed sight of the new Tweed Hospital

Why does the Tweed need a new Hospital?

The current 220-bed Tweed Hospital is bursting at the seams. Doctors say the emergency department is regularly on bypass, patients are being forced across the border to Queensland, and the hospital is operating at over 100 per cent capacity.

Demand is increasing and the NSW Government predicts the Tweed Hospital catchment population is projected to hit 209,316 by 2021.

It also says the existing site is affected by flooding and has inadequate space to develop the necessary infrastructure.

How big will the new Tweed Valley hospital be?

The hospital is expected to have additional overnight beds, operating theatres and a larger emergency department.

An integrated cancer care service, including radiation oncology and expanded chemotherapy, has been planned. Enhanced cardiac care services specialised hospital services across the age range, especially for older persons, children and adolescents and expanded Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health services are among some of the other additions to be included.

What is the Cudgen Rd site?

The selected site announced by the NSW Government in April is a 22ha lot on Cudgen Rd, Kingscliff, opposite the North Coast TAFE.

The land is currently home to 4ha of rainforest and a sweet potato crop.

About 16ha of the developable land was determined to be above the Probable Maximum Flood level. The land is zoned as RU1 for Primary Production purposes as State Significant farmland. The current owners of the property do not farm the land themselves and live in Bundaberg.

What was the original selection process?

Expressions of interest (EOI) from landowners opened in September 2017.

The nominated land was sought to sit between Tweed Heads to Pottsville and up to 10-15km inland and easily accessible via a main road link.

NSW Health Infrastructure considered 35 potential sites and an independent probity adviser oversaw the EOI process.

The results of the process have been made publicly available online via a Site Selection Summary Report. Ultimately, the Cudgen Rd block was chosen.

Why are people against the Cudgen Rd site?

The Relocate Tweed Valley Hospital from State Significant Farmland Group and Tweed Shire Council argue State Significant Farmland should not be developed.

Reasons include food security, traffic, rezoning and height restriction concerns.

Members in these groups instead support the development of a hospital of Kings Forest.

Will surrounding land be rezoned?

State Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the rezoning of the site was “not the thin edge of the wedge”. No other confirmations have been made.

Will the current Tweed Hospital close?

Health Infrastructure has not confirmed the closure of the Tweed Hospital.

“No decision has been made yet on the future use of the current Tweed Hospital site. However, it has physical limitations which is why a new facility has been planned,” a spokesman said.

Why wasn’t Kings Forest chosen originally?

The Health Infrastructure Site selection summary report lists a number of issues.

In a Probable Maximum Flood event 70 per cent of the estate is expected to inundated.

A major upgrade to road infrastructure is required to provide access to the estate, as there is only one road in and out. The report also lists no existing utilities infrastructure and the risk of a contamination risk, as the area is adjacent to a decommissioned waste site.

When will the new Hospital be built?

The anticipated build date is 2023.

What now?

Submissions for alternate sites will be assessed by the project team with the Tweed Shire Council reference group. An Alternative Site Review Summary Report will then be published. The process will be overseen by an independent probity adviser.

Alan McIntosh is sick of watching the debate about the Tweed hospital site rage on. He has decided to step in and offer up his property in Cudgen for development instead ....FOR FREE. Picture: Jerad Williams