Alma McAllister, Kingscliff
The community welcomes the opportunity to meet with Minister Hazzard (Echo October 15). However, we weren’t waiting for the minister for Health to talk to opponents of relocating the hospital onto agricultural lands so we could ‘fully understand the government’s position’ – we get it already!
Government listening is what’s needed – it’s overdue.
We’re upset that you authorised calling tenders to start work on a new hospital sited on prime agricultural land despite it being legally prohibited. Despite not yet owning the land, never having lodged a development application, never having exhibited an Environmental Impact Statement and never bothering to consult with the Tweed community.
This decision disregards this government’s 2017 Regional Plan endorsed by your Health minister. Your government promised to restore transparency, accountability and proper planning processes to NSW.
To participate in the retrospective consultation people have to self-nominate and pass your eligibility test. You have chosen to refuse permission for the Tweed mayor – the chief elected community representative – from attending the meeting.
The only thing that is clear is your government needs to rethink its definition of consultation.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
