$1 million for planning of Inverell’s redevelopment
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
THE starting gun has been fired on the redevelopment of the Armidale Rural Referral Hospital, with the allocation of $26.22 million in today’s 2016-17 NSW Budget.
The funding will allow tenders for the $60 million project to be let out and for major work to begin on a vital development for the Northern Tablelands.
It follows $1 million set aside in the 2015-16 Budget for site preparation, which is now almost complete.
“This is a serious investment by the State in the future of Armidale as a regional medical centre,” said local MP Adam Marshall, who successfully fought for the funding.
“With this money, we can start putting down the bricks and mortar of the four-storey building that will house the hospital’s new emergency department, new critical care unit, new in-patient ward, new operating theatres and a new sterilising unit.
“When the upgrade is complete, far fewer Northern Tablelands residents will have to travel far away from their homes and families to get specialist medical attention. The Armidale Rural Referral Hospital will be a far more capable of dealing with the medical requirements of our region.”
The $60 million hospital redevelopment will complement the new University of New England Tablelands Clinical School and the Ambulatory Care and Chemotherapy building to make Armidale a world-class regional health precinct.
“Few towns of 25,000 people anywhere in the world could claim ownership of outstanding clinical and community health services alongside leading teaching and research facilities,” Mr Marshall said.
The MP said he was very pleased with the inclusion of $1 million in the Budget for the next stage of planning for the $30 million redevelopment of the Inverell District Hospital.
“This is the first time ever a State Budget has committed funds to this essential project,” he said.
“This is another incredibly exciting step for the Inverell community, which can now be assured of seeing tangible progress in the next 12 months with further community consultation, detailed design plans developed and virtual walkthroughs of the redevelopment.
“This time next year, we will fully understand what is involved in the redevelopment of Inverell Hospital, and will be in a strong position to secure for funding to begin construction.”