Tweed Hospital land pick a “trojan horse” set to benefit former Nationals, says Labor

THE owner of a block of land opposite the proposed Tweed Valley Hospital site has raised concerns about the independence of the selection process — with a group of politicians set to benefit from the controversial site.

Lynne Beck and her husband, former National party member Don Beck own a parcel of land opposite the proposed site of the Tweed Valley Hospital.

NSW Labor has alleged prominent National Party identities could profit from a decision to build a new Tweed hospital on a controversial Cudgen Rd site.

Labor’s shadow minister for the north coast, Walt Secord, raised concerns about the independence of the site selection process in Parliament and called for review into the matter that would cost more than $20,000.

Cudgen property owned by the Kingscliff Land Company (highlighted). PHOTO: Supplied

The proposed hospital site, selected in April, has been revealed to be next to land partly owned by Don and Lynne Beck, who are two of five directors of the Kingscliff Land Company (KLC).

FREE FARM LAND FOR HOSPITAL BUT NO TAKERS

Mr Beck served as the National Party member for the seat of Byron and later the seat of Murwillumbah from 1984 until 1999, when he left public office. Mrs Beck is a former Tweed mayor.

NSW Health Infrastructure has confirmed the Becks were not involved in the site selection from 30 possible sites, which was overseen by an independent probity adviser.

Tweed communities are in a brawl over where to build the $534 million new hospital.

Doctors are adamant a new facility is needed to replace the existing 220-bed Tweed Hospital.

Hon. Walt Secord has called for an independent audit into how the Cudgen site was selected. Picture: Dylan Robinson

In Parliament this week, Mr Secord suggested there was more behind the selection of the controversial hospital site.

“It is well known that prominent National Party identities own land in the area that they have been desperately trying to rezone,” Mr Secord said.

“Locals fear that if this prime agricultural land is rezoned there will be a stronger case for property developers to rezone other parts of the area.

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

“I conclude my contribution on an issue that I believe warrants closer examination.”

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Asked about his call for a review, Mr Secord told the Bulletin he relied on his local knowledge.

“I have been the shadow minister of the north coast more than four years. I know first-hand ... who owns what piece of land,” Mr Secord said.

“Rezoning land in that area would be like winning the lottery.

Proposed site of the new Tweed Hospital

“I think that we need to get to the bottom of why this site got picked. It is a Trojan horse.”

Mr Secord said a review of the Health Infrastructure selection process would cost from about $24,000 to $35,000 and take six weeks.

The Becks’ 48.64ha Cudgen Rd property next to the proposed hospital site was bought in 2004 for $9.5 million.

Lynne Beck and her husband, former National party member Don Beck own a parcel of land opposite the proposed site of the Tweed Valley Hospital.

Mr Beck said he did not submit his land to the NSW Government to be considered for a hospital site.

“I have had no involvement, I haven't even spoken to a politician about the site,” he said.

He said he did not care where the hospital was placed.

“I don’t give a continental where it goes,” Mr Beck said.

“I’m not losing any sleep, we are caravanning around Armidale.

“We are both OBE — over bloody eighty.”

Mr and Mrs Beck remain financial members of the National Party.

Geoff Provest speaking at a community meeting in Cudgen about the need for a hospital in the Tweed.

Current MP Geoff Provest said Mr Secord was a specialist at “political mudraking” and there was no truth in the claims.

“Once again this whole process has been governed by Health Infrastructure, the New South Wales Government even appointed an independent auditor in the process,” he said.

A Health Infrastructure spokesman said all sites were assessed for suitability against a comprehensive suite of criteria agreed and signed off before the process began.

“Due diligence investigations were undertaken by independent experts during the process,” the spokesman said.

“An independent probity adviser oversaw the EOI process in accordance with robust NSW

Government requirements.”