Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, outside the Moree District Hospital, is lobbying the Minister for Health and the Treasurer for the inclusion of capital funding in the upcoming Budget to begin construction on the Moree and Glen Innes Hospital projects.
Wednesday, 26 May 2021
AHEAD of next month’s NSW Budget, Member for Northern Tablelands has been busy lobbying for the inclusion of construction funding to ‘get cracking’ on the promised $80 million rebuild of Moree District Hospital and the $20 million revamp of Glen Innes District Hospital.
In last November’s Mini Budget, handed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic response, $2 million was allocated for final planning of the Moree Hospital and $500,000 to bring forward and commence Glen Innes.
Mr Marshall said that now the planning work had been undertaken, he wanted capital funding allocated so that tenders could be awarded and construction get underway in the next financial year.
“While the Clinical Services Plans for both projects are being finalised by Hunter New England Health, I want to secure the capital funding for the next stage – construction works – to ensure we can get cracking on both critical health projects as quickly as possible,” Mr Marshall said.
“An allocation of all or the vast bulk of the $100 million for both hospitals in the upcoming Budget will ensure there are no delays to these two critical health projects for our region.”
To get both projects across the line for the June 22 Budget, Mr Marshall has been meeting with Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Treasurer Dominic Perrotett.
“Our region needs this funding just and much as we need these projects delivered and I’m leaving no stone unturned to get them across the line,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’m also going to be speaking with the Premier and Deputy Premier shortly to make a pitch on behalf of the Moree and Glen Innes communities to get the cash we need.
“As we have seen with the redevelopment of Armidale and Inverell hospitals, the construction of these major health projects provides new employment in the short term, while long-term acts to entice new people and medical professionals to town.
“For families looking to relocate from the city to the bush after COVID-19, their two top priorities will be good schools and a healthy hospital.
“With a brand new hospital in Moree and refurbishment facility at Glen Innes, I think both towns will become even more attractive for potential new residents.
“I expect these improvements will offset what is fast becoming a life or death situation in these towns, assisting to attract and maintain the doctors and health professionals needed to keep residents safe and healthy.
“The people of Moree and Glen Innes have fought tooth, nail and petition over nearly half a decade to get to this point, so while I have advocated strongly for these commitments from government, I’ll continue doing everything I can to ensure funding is allocated and the projects are delivered.”