THE suggestion that the shire community and in fact the local health network might be better served by building a new hospital on a greenfield site rather than redeveloping the old Macksville Hospital is under serious discussion.
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Following the Guardian’s story (Dec 22) quoting the mayor Rhonda Hoban about the pluses and minuses of each scenario, the Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey has come on board saying that while she did not want to presume anything, “strong representations had been made”.
“Health infrastructure staff have put a considerable amount of work into this and I am hoping for an answer by the end of February,” Mrs Pavey said.
Health infrastructure staff have put a considerable amount of work into this and I am hoping for an answer by the end of February.
- Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey
What bureaucrats are doing is a cost-benefit analysis of the two options with the alternative site being the State-Government owned land at North Macksville that is currently home to the new highway’s concrete batching plant.
“The community need to understand that this is not a delaying mechanism but rather something that is worth investigating … that is not to say that there is anything wrong with the redevelopment scenario – the $50 million dollars is there and that could all go ahead.
“Developing the North Macksville site would require substantially more money – the RMS site would need to be purchased and access roads and other infrastructure would need to be built.
“That would all require a significant funding increase ($20 million has been mooted) and given the pressures on health and taxpayer dollars there are a number of ‘battles’ to be had internally.”
She said that whatever happened Macksville Hospital and the facilities it offered would be much improved and continue to play an important role in the local health network in the future.
Shire mayor, Rhonda Hoban, previously said a fresh build on the proposed site would have several advantages, including the fact the land is level and there is room for expansion.
She said access was not a problem now that a second highway exit ramp, on the northern side of the river, had been confirmed plus a ‘from scratch’ build would mean facilities could be a perfect fit rather than working around existing infrastructure.
