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April 26, 2024

Democracy or vandalism? Tweed Valley Hospital site remains controversial

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The first sign erected by locals objecting to the new Tweed Valley Hospital site selected by the current National/Liberal state government. Photo supplied.

Reports in the Daily Mail that signs protesting against the proposed controversial Tweed Valley Hospital on the newly erected fences around the site were put there by ‘vandals’ have been disputed by local resident Barbara Roughan.

‘My dictionary states that a vandal is someone who deliberately damages or destroys something belonging to someone else. There has been no damage or destruction here, just a very witty sign attached to a fence, followed by a second sign a few days later once the original one was removed,’ said Barbara.

The second sign erected on the new Tweed Valley Hospital site by locals objecting to the site selected by the current National/Liberal state government. Photo supplied.

Barbara has been a strong opponent of the site the National/Liberal state government have selected for the new Tweed Valley Hospital

‘Local residents appreciate the humour displayed here, and agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed,’ she said.

‘Many dupes have been played out on the entire Tweed community, and highlighting them with signs is democracy in action.

‘The real vandalism on site is being done by our own government departments who have erected a fence cutting off the valuable wildlife corridor. This corridor has been conveniently ignored by the hospital planners, one of the many flawed decisions made during the process of moving an entire hospital precinct from Tweed Heads to Kingscliff with no consultation with the community whatsoever.

‘Building sediment ponds in the buffer area between the protected wetlands and the hospital buildings is extreme environmental vandalism, and the appropriate federal government departments have been informed.

‘Our state government should not underestimate the intelligence or the power of an outraged community. I’m looking forward to reading more humorous, factually correct signs.’


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20 COMMENTS

  1. Barbara Roughan is totally correct in her statement regarding signs erected on the perimeter fence of the proposed Tweed Valley Hospital site
    This is a protest you can’t ignore and I am in support of our community continuing the fight to stop this poorly planned hospital project
    Show some commonsense and move it off State Significant Farmland and there is no argument

    • Why would anyone one in all good sense object to the site for the Tweed Valley Hospital. So called State Significant Farm Land, 10 yrs ago they wanted it removed due to drought, now they use bore water, this land will fall the same way as the identical land across the border in Redlands It will be housing as there is much better farming land around the Tweed.
      If this land is so good ask the question WHY DO YOU USE SO MANY CHEMICALS on the land? Up till the banning of DDT it was used and it stays in the land, the bugs there now need more simply because of the continued use of chemicals.
      The push for Kings Forest is in my opinion, a deal struck between Labor and LEDA, Gold Coast Bulletin showed the link by way of donations. Why else would Reece Byrne (Labor) change his mind about LEDA building a 10 storey building at Cobaki.
      There is flooding at Kings Forest, Koalas who will lose their homes, no access from the M1, no infrastructure, ie sewerage, water, roads etc.. Why does LEDA want the Hospital, pecuniary interests only, all the most costly work would be done by the State Government and he pays bugger all and we get a substandard hospital nothing better than Byron Bay hospital.
      I want to have a Regional Referral Hospital, I do not want to travel to Lismore or Gold Coast for my cancer treatment.
      I am totally sick to death of people who are putting PROFITS before what is needed by the whole of the Tweed Shire and places abutting our Shire.
      Remember the land purchased was not sought out by Health Infrastructure it was put up by the landowners, same as all the other land.
      The choice made is the best one, there is room for expansion, opposite the TAFE is brilliant for students who are studying nursing etc, they are next to the place they will need to undertake their clinicals.
      Job opportunities are abundant for those who are willing to get of the arses and apply for it.
      To say the anti protectors are self funded is a blatant lie, LEDA has said publicly they will back relocate so LEDA can get what he wants, a token payment towards the infrastructure and a higher price for his development.
      I fully hope that ALL THESE MULTITUDES who disagree with the Hospital site do not cross the door step when they need help. I mean if you are sticking to your guns you would go to Gold Coast University Hospital or Byron or Lismore.

      • How selfish you are – you only want the Hospital there for your own needs.We (the unwashed) look to support our community not our own selfish needs !!

  2. Even the NSW Dept of Industries & Agriculture clearly expressed in their objection to this site selection that it is totally inappropriate to be building a hospital on State Significant Farmland!

  3. I agree with Barbara comments. No vandalism done. People in Kingscliff and Tweed are fed up beign ignored by Sydney based pro development government. We are in need of a hospital for future generations but not on this small site with no road access and no land for future development.

  4. Typical Relocater statements. They rarely research fact.
    If Barbara Roughan had looked up more than just a dictionary she would be aware that vandalism includes defacement and that defacement need not be permanent to be vandalism.
    The full force of the law should be brought upon these vandals and those that support them and encourage criminal acts. They are no better than the criminals.

    • Jesus James chill out
      No harm has been done , an opinion has been expressed that is at variance with yours and guess what? That’s O.K
      The fence was not damaged, just painted, no harm done, no one hurt or inconvenienced. You too get to have your say, democracy at work
      I do so look forward to your , presumably , intolerant response
      ?

  5. At this year’s Woodford folk festival Costa Georgiadis (presenter of ABC’s Gardening Australia) and Dr Karl Kruszelnicki emphasised how important it is to preserve fertile urban and coastal soil for localised food production. This is especially relevant considering the threat of climate change and farmland to the west becoming increasingly unviable.

    I am sure that Costa and Dr Karl would be shocked if they knew that the NSW Government and the National Party have decided to build a hospital on state significant farmland at Cudgen.

    Congratulations to our amazing Greens Mayor Katie Milne on her efforts to keep the hospital north of the river. Greens state candidate Bill Fenelon is fully committed to retaining and expanding the current hospital site at Tweed Heads, in accordance with the North Coast Regional Plan.

  6. Of course it’s not vandalism. It is the opinion of Cudgen & Kingscliff residents who were not included in discussions re the proposed hospital and its placement. The NSW Government is completely in error with their decision and will not listen to our voices. Would a change of this decision result in loss of face so close to an election? I think it would be the opposite.

  7. Will James, surely “defacement” is in the eye of the beholder. Here we had a boring advertising hoarding for a flawed consultation process by the state government and the locals just added a bit of lively commentary. It’s a bit of graffiti Will and it’s a valid form of expression emanating from Roman times. Get over it.

    • Lol. Your argument might have some foundation if your learned how to spell. Learn the Law. Anyone that supports this vandalism, like you, is no better than the criminals who did it.
      Thankfully, while these twits keep making their signs, real work is being done to provide much needed health care services to the region.
      Make a sign about that.

  8. No vandalism here The hospital going on STATE SIGNIFICANT FARMLAND is the only vandalism here.The Hospital will not be built on the cudgen site as LABOR will move it plain and simple

  9. WE ALL WANT A NEW HOSPITAL. BUT NOT ON OUR FOOD BOWL. SIMPLE ! If the Govt listened to the people who elect them, we wouldn’t be having this UNSOUND argument.

    NEW HOSPITAL … NEW SITE … NEW GOVT AT NEXT ELECTION !

  10. Why don’t people come to grips with the hospital being built there face facts , The hospital will be built there . What are the protesters going to boycott going to this hospital when it’s built I suppose… get over it .

  11. 1. Yes… a new multifaceted hospital is an urgent necessity
    2. The site so chosen is a not a wise choice. It is imperative we protect & care for
    our fertile land for food source farming ..while we have it
    3. It’s too far away from main residential habitat, especially the aged with health
    issues who have to rely on public transport
    4. Elderly people are going to be severely disadvantaged because of
    access/distance, especially when feeling unwell already.
    5. Health care is meant to be a SERVICE for all, not a business or election lobby
    6. Let common sense & democracy prevail for all, or have we already lost both?

    • Let common sense and democracy prevail for all,
      OR HAVE WE ALREADY LOST BOTH”?
      That is what the March State election will be a referendum on as will the Federal election!
      There are many in this country that feel the LNP has become no more than a lobby group for untaxed corporatists and their insatiable greed, hell bent on exploiting Australia for every damned dollar they can screw out of us and we are bloody well fed up with them.
      Well, may they say, “ANYONE BUT THE NATS”!
      “IT MAY AS WELL BE ANYONE BUT THE LNP”.
      So these coming elections we must all give the LNP the LNP, Last Number Position on the ballot paper.
      And watch out for the LNP supporting “Independents” a vote for Hanson and the others, is just another vote for the LNP in parliament or the Senate selling us out!

  12. For someone who claims to have knowledge of “the law” Will James appears to be very careless in throwing around allegations of criminality.

  13. These facilities recognize that aging is not just a physical process but encompasses emotional, social, and mental well-being.

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