The site for the half-billion dollar future Tweed Valley Hospital was announced today, with Tweed MP Geoff Provest saying it would bring a ‘jobs bonanza’ to the region.
Mr Provest was joined by Health Minister Brad Hazzard at the Kingscliff site for the $534 million state-of-the-art hospital, which was selected after an extensive search.
‘Today is a fantastic day for our community because it means detailed planning for our new hospital can now get underway and soon it will rise out of a new greenfield site,’ Mr Provest said.
‘The message from our community, doctors and nurses was that we need a new hospital and the Liberal & Nationals Government is now delivering.
‘Its location on Cudgen Road opposite Kingscliff TAFE provides an opportunity to develop a health and education precinct over time. This is great news.
‘Site works are expected to start once acquisition and planning processes are completed with the target of having our new hospital completed in 2022 and opened as soon as possible after that.
‘With our growing population, our new hospital will deliver a bonanza of hundreds of construction and health service jobs and the best possible healthcare well into the future,’ Mr Provest said.
Mr Hazzard said the location was selected from more than 30 sites across the region.
‘Seventy per cent of the current and future population is within a 30-minute drive to the new hospital, which is great news for patients, their families and staff,’ Mr Hazzard said.
‘After I became the Minister for Health, my first visit to the region was to the Tweed – compliments of Geoff Provest getting into my ear enthusiastically and early on.
‘The project team is now meeting with clinicians and other staff to progress planning, with masterplans and concept designs expected to be unveiled in the coming months.
‘This year alone, the NSW Government is spending $851 million on health services in the Northern NSW LHD,’ he said.
Murwillumbah to stay
Meanwhile, fellow Nationals Lismore MP Thomas George, whose electorate now includes Murwillumbah, says the hospital there will continue to operate even after the new Tweed Valley Hospital is opened.
Mr George said he had ‘always been a strong advocate for health services in the Tweed Shire’.
Through the addition of this state-of-the-art Tweed Valley Hospital in conjunction with Murwillumbah Hospital, residents will have direct access to world class health services,’ he said..
‘I reinforce the importance of Murwillumbah Hospital and the services it provides, not only to Murwillumbah residents, but to those living south and south-west who have to travel to receive health treatments.
‘This news is great for patients, their families and staff of our area,’ Mr George said.
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