Developers foot bill for Tweed Hospital information day
Development group Leda Holding has offered to assist a Cudgen farming group in a bid to promote the Kings Forest estate as a better site for the proposed $534 million hospital.
Gold Coast
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FARMERS have formed an unlikely alliance with development group Leda Holding in a bid to promote the Tweed’s King’s Forest estate as a better site for the region’s proposed $534 million hospital.
An information day will be held on the estate tomorrow as a part of the latest push against the planned site of the Cudgen plateau.
Farming groups want the selected site on Cudgen Road to remain a prime agricultural land.
Instead they are putting their support behind the 32ha King’s Forest development by Leda Holdings, which is owned by billionaire developer Bob Ell.
Relocate Tweed Valley Hospital to Save Cudgen Farmland will be a family focused protest event and include a sausage sizzle, live music and kids activities.
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Leda Holdings, who are preparing a tender for the site of the multi-million hospital, confirmed they are paying public liability insurance and the cost of power generators for the event.
Leda staff will also be available to answer questions.
The Relocate Tweed Valley Hospital group approached Leda about supporting the event.
“We were asked for permission, we granted is as we believe it is a good idea, as it is our property insurance was covered by Leda and the small price of electric generators,” a Leda spokesman said.
The information day is not the first time the LEDA development has been publicly promoted for the hospital facility.
The Gold Coast Bulletin last week revealed Simone Holzapfel, a former long-time adviser to Tony Abbott and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, and her company, Shac Communications, was hired to build the website spruiking Kings Forest Estate.
Ms Holzapfel had confirmed to the Bulletin she had been asked by Kingscliff real estate agent Louise Beahan to help with the campaign. She referred all questions to Ms Beahan.
“I am doing it for some Kingscliff locals that want the hospital (at Kings Forest),” Ms Holzapfel said at the time. “I built a website for Louise and that’s it. I was introduced to Louise through a friend.”
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State member Geoff Provest says the community has been “turned off” to how politicised the process has become.
“There are billboards up and down. There is a lot of effort being put into having a hospital on that site,” Mr Provest said.
“I have a strong belief in the process, but this is causing confusion in the community,” he said.
“Government has employed an independent probity officer and they will come out with the analysis of the process on the closing date on the 14th, I have faith in their work.
“People have said you can’t buy the site, it is an independent process — the one chosen will be the best value for taxpayers,” he said.
Mr Provest said whatever the decision, the site cannot afford further delays.
“There is $48 million for temporary measures at the existing hospital, if we go over the deadline, we are in crisis dead set crisis mode, no one can afford that,” he said.
Health Infrastructure would not comment on the Kings Forest site campaign.
“Health Infrastructure has an independent probity adviser who works in accordance with all required legislation,” a spokesman said.
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