Flooding concern for Kingscliff locals but Tweed hospital plans say all OK

RESIDENTS say they are worried the controversial Tweed Hospital site will create traffic dramas and be blocked during flooding — The NSW Government says otherwise.

Tweed Mayor Katie Milne who last week moved a motion to change the proposed Tweed Hospital site. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

TRAFFIC and flood worries are among issues raised by residents opposed to the siting of a proposed Tweed hospital, despite NSW Government plans for road upgrades.

The controversial construction site, which the Tweed Shire Council has asked the NSW Government to change, continues to cause controversy among Kingscliff locals.

Resident Mark Baxter, who shares the food security concerns of the council because the hospital is planned on land used for farming, said he was more worried about transport problems at the Cudgen road site.

“It would be a traffic nightmare and there would be a need to upgrade it to be a major thoroughfare,” Mr Baxter said.

“People have been complaining for years about the lack of parking and the traffic in the area.

“But it has been suggested 2000 people will be employed there, plus the patients, so that will be a tremendous amount of traffic on top of the problems already. It’s a major concern.’’

Mr Baxter said he would prefer to see the hospital built at Kings Forest.

“It is an open space out there with no impact on existing town identity and infrastructure,” he said.

Another Kingscliff resident who asked not to be named said he was amazed by the decision to select a potato farm next to the Kingscliff TAFE, given the infrastructure and roads.

“The fact is it can be floodbound both north and south,” the resident said.

“That is the overriding issue for me. The motorway was blocked by the Tweed River for two days during previous flooding.

“If you are going to have a hospital, how are you going to get to and from it?”

An aerial view of a flooded Tweed River, taken on April 1, 2017.

But a site selection summary released this week by the NSW Government indicates the site is one of the only options that would not be affected by flooding.

“Alternative road access is available for southern coastal population if the M1 and Tweed

Coast Road are impacted by flooding, which occurs in a one-in-20 year event,” the summary said.

“Population centres to the north of Tweed River are able to access Robina Hospital within

approximately 30 minutes.”

According to the selection summary, all other areas considered by the Health Infrastructure office were found to have either poor road access or were located remotely, away from significant urban developments and associated infrastructure.

Tweed Coast Road and other local road upgrades planned to the west of Kingscliff identified in the summary were expected to improve access to the area.

Councillor Pryce Allsop, who has backed the proposed site, said opposition by other councillors was becoming political.

“I voted against the notice of motion () that was) asking the Government to find another site,” Cr Allsop said.

“To be honest I think some councillors were very immature, grasping at straws looking for bush blocks available.”

Cr Allsop said he was satisfied the flooding concerns were limited.

“The location is future proofed, the site is above flood levels and services are there for hospital administration,’’ he said.

“Ultimately others are now playing political games.”

Following the council vote to call for a change of site, Health Infrastructure published the Tweed hospital site selection summary online.

Councillor Pryce Allsop. Picture Mike Batterham