Speaking at the launch of his campaign for a refurbished hospital at Inverell on Wednesday morning, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said there was a need to lock in a commitment from the state government before next year's election.
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“Whether I am still the member for Northern Tablelands is immaterial,” he said.
“So that whoever is the Member for Northern Tablelands, it doesn’t matter, that we lock in a commitment so that the community of Inverell gets the benefit.
“It’s not about Adam Marshall, it’s not about who the next member is. It’s about the Inverell community and its health needs now.”
Labor candidate for Northern Tablelands Debra O’Brien said she has received emails and phone call about the hospital constantly.
“It's an urgent issue and has been urgent for years. Who wouldn't support much-needed funding for upgrades to Inverell District Hospital?” Ms O’Brien said.
“As for Adam Marshall publicising his wish list months before an election with no commitment, it means very little. Talk is cheap. Money buys hospitals.
“The fact that he talks about taking this campaign to his own party says it all. No one is listening. And while the Northern Tablelands remains a safe National (Party) seat, no one will."
Talk is cheap. Money buys hospitals.
- Labor candidate for Northern Tablelands Debra O’Brien
Hunter New England Health Services (HNEHS) had always insisted that a Clinical Services Plan was necessary to precede a redevelopment.
Now HNEHS chief executive Michael Di Rienzo has said that process depends on a funding commitment.
“This would determine how extensive a redevelopment would be, whether a Clinical Services Plan (CSP) is needed and the approximate time it would take to commence building work,” Mr Di Rienzo said.
“We do not currently have a CSP for Inverell Health Service, and at this point we do not have one in development.
“If and when a funding commitment is made, we will be in a position to provide the community with more clarity around the expected timeframes.”
Former mayor Mal Peters said it was interesting that nothing had happened for the full term of the government.
“Then when they get close to an election they’re going to do all these marvellous things. People have seen that so often. Until they see it happen they probably won’t believe it," Cr Peters said.
However, Mayor Paul Harmon said the announcement was not an election promise.
“I think they’re making sure that things are developed. I’m happy to see money come into our community, regardless of whatever the time of the year it is or whatever the election cycle is,” Cr Harmon said.
Campaign launch
During a brief visit to the hospital on Wednesday morning Mr Marshall announced the beginning of his campaign to lock in funding worth about $28 million to achieve modern, refurbished facilities.
“I’m calling on the Inverell community to either sign the form letter, which will be circulating around the community, or simply inundate me with letters, with emails, or inundate the Minister (Jillian Skinner) directly, so she understands how strongly the community feels about this redevelopment,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’ll be looking to meet with the Minister, probably late January, to press home the need for a commitment.”
Former Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, tabled his attention-getting petition, with 11,000 local signatures, and it was debated in Parliament in February 2013.
He told the House at the time Inverell Hospital structure was tired and no longer able, in the medium and longer term, to do the job.
For ex-deputy mayor, Bob Bensley, who retired from council in 1983, the issue of new hospital facilities had been on the agenda for a long time.
“In the current context, I imagine you could be looking at 15 to 20 years at the very least that people have been concerned about the downgrading or lack of facilities that you really need in this day and age,” Mr Bensley said. Former mayors Barry Johnston and Mal Peters, along with current mayor Paul Harmon, said a redevelopment was something the community had wanted for 10 years.
Cr Harmon said a hotch-potch approach would not be good enough.
“It’s got to be a redevelopment that works and is practical. There has been so many inefficiencies within the hospital, not from the staff, but from the way the hospital is laid out,” Cr Harmon said.
