"This is a really great result for the community. We will have two operating theatres in the new hospital," Mr Marshall said, noting that an expansion zone could allow for a third operating theatre to be built in the future.

Stage two (also known as stage 1B) will follow the completion of stage one, and involve the refurbishment and repurposing of the existing hospital building for allied and community health services. 

"We’ll have on this health campus all of the primary and allied health services in this community under essentially what will be one roof, and it will be a modern, first class facility that will serve this community well for decades and decades to come," Mr Marshall said.

The refurbished area will include adult ambulatory care (including mental health services), women and children's facilities, oral health, chronic disease treatment programs and allied health.

"This has been a real community effort, and the fight for this facility goes well beyond my time as the local member. Bob (Bensley) can show you clippings back in the 70s when this was first mooted," Mr Marshall said. 

Inverell Shire Council mayor Paul Harmon thanked Mr Marshall for his persistence in pursuing the community's needs and wishes. 

"This will help future proof our health services for the community going into the future, and that’s hugely important for the growth and the stability of our town and the attracting of people to our community," he said.

"Everything is being set up to put our community further into the future and make things a lot stronger. It’s a great day for Inverell."

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Mr Marshall assured the community that discussions are ongoing for the provision of a CT scanner, with options including moving the scanner located in town to the hospital or extending the hours of the current provider. Both options would mean patients no longer have to travel to Armidale for a scan.

"I’ve been promised in writing by Hunter New England Health CEO Michael Dirienzo, and I have it here that he will have an answer for the community by the middle of March. So I will make sure I hold him to that, and you’ll all be witness to this," he said.

He also noted that the private imaging provider has a pending application to the federal government -  backed by the state government - for an MRI licence. 

"If it’s granted, which I hope it is, they will invest money to actually bring an MRI machine to Inverell for the very first time, which again would be perfect timing with the build of this, because having better diagnostic facilities means we’ll have less and less people having to travel out of town," he said.

Significant progress has been made on stage one of the project, with civil works for the new main building almost complete. Around 7000 tonnes of rock has been crushed for reuse, a 24 space carpark and Moore street access have been completed and the concrete foundations for the main building, including the lift shaft, have all been poured. 

At least 12 local businesses have been involved, from plumbers and electricians to sign makers and traffic control. 

The new plans are on display at two community information sessions in the Town Hall annex from 3-6pm today and another session tomorrow morning between 8.30-11.30am. 

Updates on the hospital redevelopment are available on the Hunter New England Health website.

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