Major contract awarded to Lendlease for early works at Tweed Valley Hospital site a week after submissions closed on EIS

A major contract has been awarded to do earthworks and infrastructure for the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital — but it could all be for nothing in three months.

THE NSW Government has been accused of bulldozing community objections against the controversial $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital site.

Yesterday, a week after accepting more than 100 submissions on the proposed site, Tweed MP Geoff Provest announced Lendlease had won the $25 million early works contract to build the hospital.

The Lendlease contract, including earthworks, retaining walls, in-ground services and roadworks, is subject to planning approvals that could all be for nothing if Labor wins the NSW election in 91 days.

Tweed District Mayor Katie Milne and James Paddon protest outside the site of the new Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen. Photo Scott Powick

The ALP has promised to build the hospital at Kings Forest.

Farmers, Kingscliff residents and environmentalists have protested against the Government’s site at Cudgen, which would have to be rezoned because it is State Significant Farmland.

This week a community group of about 400 people started a campaign in favour of the site.

Support Our Hospital organiser Penny Hockings said the group wanted to dispel myths circulating about the proposed hospital.

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“We have five key campaign messages that we will focus on over the next three weeks,” she said.

Labor’s shadow minister for primary industries Mick Veitch Mick Veitch and Labor candidate for Tweed Craig Elliot.

“The first one will be what it will cost if the proposed site is relocated.”

She said there were no political backers funding the group, just donations from the community, including two significant contributions from individuals.

Labor Tweed candidate Craig Elliot said the Government should respond to the environmental impact submissions, which closed last Thursday, before handing out contracts.

“How can you bulldoze ahead without accepting the community’s views on the environmental impact statement?” Mr Elliot said.

“It is a weird way to go about consultation and in about 80 days people will be casting their prepoll votes and the location of the hospital could change.”

Machinery on the Tweed hospital site on State Significant Farmland at Curdgen.

Mr Provest said a hospital could not be built in time at Labor’s chosen site, Kings Forest, just 1km south of Kingscliff.

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“We have put the election aside and are getting on with building a 21st-century hospital for the people of the Tweed,” he said.

“It is critical we build this hospital within four years. Labor’s proposal to move it to another site would delay it two to three years.

“I stand by that pushing out the contracts is the right thing to do.”

In a confidential council meeting today, Tweed councillors are expected to review advice from a barrister to decide if they can take compliance action against the Government for preliminary works at the hospital site.

A local industry information session will be held early next year to outline the early works packages and how Lendlease will help develop local industry capability so that Tweed businesses can win work on the project.