In making its first Deniliquin specific election promise, the Liberals and Nationals came out with their best offer.
The Coalition has promised $106.3 million to build-up the existing Deniliquin Hospital into a new, two-storey facility if re-elected on March 25.
Staff accommodation would be included in the design.
The announcement was made yesterday by NSW Minister for Regional Health at Deniliquin Hospital, where she was flanked by Nationals candidate Peta Betts.
Mrs Taylor then made her way to Deniliquin Airport where, on behalf of Deputy Premier Paul Toole, she promised funding that would allow Edward River Council to leverage Commonwealth funds already committed to the airport and help to upgrade the airport’s pavement and runway (subject to an assessment).
At the hospital, Ms Taylor said the new funding would build on the investment in health infrastructure improvements committed by the Coalition at the last election.
A combined $4.6 million of NSW and Federal funding was promised to redevelop key areas, including the emergency department and operating theatre.
“We have quarantined the funds and are committed to starting as soon as elected,” Ms Taylor told the Pastoral Times.
“It will be a redevelopment of the site using as many local trades as possible.
“ED has been upgraded, theatre is underway and everything else will be built around that.”
Mrs Taylor said the key aim of the new facility will be bringing clinical and support services together under one roof and improving the overall flow of the hospital.
“This new emergency department was welcomed with open arms by staff and the community, but it was clear during this visit that it was time the rest of the hospital was upgraded.
“This $106.3 million investment will centralise clinical and support services that are currently dispersed across multiple buildings, which will improve the overall flow and efficiency of this hospital.
“It will make a huge difference for both staff and patients.”
Staff accommodation will also be delivered as part of the significant investment, ensuring visiting and new health workers have access to high quality accommodation close to the hospital.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for healthcare workers coming to our regional communities. Being able to provide safe, comfortable accommodation close to where they are working is a huge incentive,” Mrs Taylor said.
The funding commitment for the airport, which is also dependent on the Coalition being re-elected, would bring funding allocated to the airport to $8 million and secure federal funding received by ERC last year.
The Commonwealth provided $2.5 million originally, under the proviso it be matched by other funding avenues.
Last last year council was given permission to allocate $1.5 million of it NSW Locals Roads and Community Infrastructure program to the project.
The plan at the airport is to stabilise the runway and provide a new surface, finishing with a 200mm-thick base pavement and bitumen seal to improve its pavement classification number.
The project was to be completed in stages due to funding constraints, with stage one conservatively budgeted at $4.5 million before supply cost increases.
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