Tweed Mayor Katie Milne proposes ban for contractors who ask for work on $534 million hospital from council contracts

TWEED Mayor Katie Milne proposes ban for contractors who ask for work on $534 million hospital from council contracts.

TWEED’S Green Mayor Katie Milne wants to black ban contractors and tradies who apply for work on the $534 million hospital project.

She also proposed the council would help blockade workers from the Cudgen site.

Tweed businesses are now considering withdrawing their tenders from the biggest infrastructure project in the shire’s history for fear of not winning council contracts.

This could mean Tweed tradies might be left out of the 2700 jobs over three years to build the new hospital.

Protesters blocked the site for the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital until police moved them along.

Cr Milne joined 130 protesters yesterday blocking tradies from entering the Cudgen Rd site on the first day of construction.

The protesters stopped trucks from getting onto the site for six hours until police moved them out of the way.

Cr Milne held up a placard that read “Premier Gladys you need to listen”, in reference to NSW Health’s decision to build the hospital on farmland.

Mayor Katie Milne was reportedly seen moving sheets of corrugated iron to block trucks from entering the site yesterday.

The Cudgen sweet potato farm was chosen as the preferred site in April, instantly dividing the community.

Those opposed to the project say it will result in them losing their agricultural industry in Cudgen.

Cr Milne told the Bulletin she would prepare a motion at the next council meeting on November 15 to boycott any local companies associated with the hospital build.

“I’m sure it won’t be supported by all councillors but a majority of councillors have been supportive with the community in protecting State Significant Farmland,” she said.

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“That’s what the community has called on us to do, to help with any efforts to boycott the hospital. There’s plans for a blockade (at the site) every day they’re working here.”

The Mayor has been publicly critical of the chosen site, preferring the current hospital at Tweed Heads be upgraded to deal with the demand.

However, NSW Health Infrastructure says there isn’t enough room at the current hospital, it would be too expensive and could not be built within the four-year deadline before Tweed is in a health “crisis”.

Save Cudgen Farmland leader Hayley Paddon asked Cr Milne if she would boycott businesses who tendered for hospital jobs from winning council contracts and help people blockade workers from the site.

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

“I am certainly happy to put that to my councillors and it will be up to the majority of councillors to support that,” Cr Milne said.

A Tweed business owner who had workers on site yesterday said she was now considering whether to send tradies again on Thursday.

“We’re are just trying to keep local workers employed and families fed but now we are having second thoughts about being involved,” said the employer of 10 Tweed residents, who denied to be named.

“It is scary to think we’re just trying to do a job and keep people employed and now we might be banned from council contracts.”

Nationals Tweed MP Geoff Provest said Cr Milne’s ban was “disgraceful”.

“These are local people, men and women trying to earn a living and she is willing to use her position to ruin that because of her ideological views,” he said.

Tweed Mayor Katie Milne was one of about 130 protesters at the site for the $534 million Tweed Valley Hospital.

“She is causing unrest and potential harm to the people of the Tweed and lost sight of the fact that unless this hospital is built in four years people will suffer.

“If she does get this up there will be legal challenges left, right and centre and no court in the land would allow it.”

Former Mayor and fellow councillor Warren Polglase said Cr Milne’s proposal was an attack on small business.

“About 50 per cent of the people in the Tweed work in some way in the construction industry,” he said.

“If the black ban is enforced it would destroy any chance of other businesses from investing in the Tweed because it is saying the council is anti-business.”